This paper outlines a case study in which ethnomethodological principles are applied to the social practice of games-playing. Ethnomethodologists stress that social order is achieved not given; and they have designed "demonstrations" to display the tacit "methodical procedures" through which agents construct or accomplish social order. This case study of players' methodical procedures in "accomplishing" games reveals two seperable dimensions or levels of game rules. It is proposed that this conception of rules has a more general application to institutionalized games in order to explain how and why their rules are subject to chronic change. Game rules are a contested terrain where different interest groups attempt to legitimate particular games-playing practice. An analysis of this contest over rules provides crucial insights into game transformation and change.
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