IEEE CTS 5-22-2025 Hybrid Meeting - The Science of Fun in Mobile Gaming
This is a hybrid in person and Zoom meeting starting at 6:30 PM Central Std. Time.
Abstract
Video game development is pretty incredible if you think about it. For generations now, the weaving of technology with artistry has enabled a vast expanse of opportunities for creative minds to stretch their imagination and bring audiences along for the ride. It’s in our modern era of mobile technology, however, that audiences are finally able to respond back via the data they generate. It’s this data that defines the mobile gaming experience, setting the industry apart from its predecessors and allowing it to rapidly dwarf them.
To understand the value in this data, we’ll start with a primer on the mobile gaming market. From there, we will dive into the various business models that mobile technology enables as well as some of the development practices that motivate easy data collection and usage. Finally, we'll tie these two threads together and show how data heightens gamers’ experiences and magically turns into money.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
Registration
- Date: 22 May 2025
- Time: 11:31 PM UTC to 01:00 AM UTC
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- 8401 Cameron Rd.
- Austin, Texas
- United States 78754
- Building: Asian American Resource Center
- Room Number: 1
- Starts 30 April 2025 05:00 AM UTC
- Ends 21 May 2025 01:00 AM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
Jacob Claussen of Zynga Inc.
The Science of Fun in Mobile Gaming
Video game development is pretty incredible if you think about it. For generations now, the weaving of technology with artistry has enabled a vast expanse of opportunities for creative minds to stretch their imagination and bring audiences along for the ride. It’s in our modern era of mobile technology, however, that audiences are finally able to respond back via the data they generate. It’s this data that defines the mobile gaming experience, setting the industry apart from its predecessors and allowing it to rapidly dwarf them.
To understand the value in this data, we’ll start with a primer on the mobile gaming market. From there, we will dive into the various business models that mobile technology enables as well as some of the development practices that motivate easy data collection and usage. Finally, we'll tie these two threads together and show how data heightens gamers’ experiences and magically turns into money.
Biography:
Jacob Claussen received his bachelor’s degree in physics from University of Chicago before attending University of Texas at Austin as a graduate student in their Theory Group led by Nobel laureate Steven Weinberg. There, his research centered around quantum physics and string theory. Upon completion of his PhD in 2016, he joined Zynga, a video game development company, as a data scientist for their mobile gaming portfolio.
In his eight years there, Jacob has built and grown analytics teams across live services, marketing, and publishing. Today, he directs several analytics teams as well as Zynga’s ML/AI algorithm development team.
Email:
Address:Austin, Texas, United States
Agenda
The Life Members Affinity Group and Austin Consultants Network Affinity Group (CTCN) meets monthly. Except when meeting jointly with other groups, the CTCN meet on the third Thursday each month. Meetings usually begin with informal networking from 6:25 to 6:40 p.m., followed by presentations from 6:40 to 7:55 p.m. by experts in topics of interest to IEEE Members. Our meetings are open to the public.
Light refreshments may be available during in person meetings.