Course Schedule and Catalog
Course Schedule - Fall Semester 2026
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
Meeting location information can now be found on student schedules in ESTHER (for students) or on the Course Roster in ESTHER (for faculty and instructors).Additional information available here.
COLL 109 001 (CRN: 16358)
MOB GAMES: SUC AND IMP ON WRLD
Long Title: MOBILE GAMES: THEIR SUCCESS AND IMPACT ON THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE WORLD (HANSZEN)
Department: College Courses
Instructors:
Meeting: 7:00PM - 7:50PM T (24-AUG-2026 - 4-DEC-2026)
Part of Term: Full Term - No WL Purge
Grade Mode: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory
Course Type: Seminar
Language of Instruction: Taught in English
Method of Instruction: Face to Face
Credit Hours: 1
Course Syllabus:
Course Materials: Rice Campus Store
Restrictions:
Must be enrolled in one of the following Level(s):
Undergraduate Professional
Visiting Undergraduate
Undergraduate
Section Max Enrollment: 18
Section Enrolled: 9
Waitlisted: 0 (Max 99)
Current members of the waitlist have priority for available seats.
Enrollment data as of: 26-APR-2026 9:15AM
Final Exam: No Final Exam
Description: Why are mobile games so addictive, accessible, and profitable—especially for our generation? This course examines the psychology, design structures, and business strategies that power today’s most successful mobile games. Using Supercell as a central case study, students will analyze how mobile games attract, retain, and monetize millions of players worldwide.
Through readings, discussions, and a personal gameplay tracking project, students will explore reward systems, habit formation, player motivation, and persuasive design. The course also critically evaluates monetization models such as microtransactions and in-app purchases, with sustained attention to ethical questions surrounding consumer behavior and digital well-being.
In the final project, students will design a hypothetical mobile game that either proposes a more ethical engagement model or challenges traditional monetization structures. This course is analytical rather than vocational: students will leave not as passive players, but as informed thinkers capable of evaluating how mobile games shape behavior, culture, and the global economy.