Jim Malazita, an assistant professor in the Department of Science and Technology Studies with an appointment in the Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, has been awarded a fellowship from The Strong, a museum based in Rochester, New York, devoted to the history and exploration of play.

The Strong Research Fellowship will provide Malazita access to the museum’s collection of development materials relating to America’s Army, a game sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense and designed as a U.S. Army recruitment tool. Malazita will be examining how America’s Army, which launched in 2002, influenced video games and video game development software in today’s market.

Malazita’s research is part of his current book project about Unreal Engine, a leading game development software popular for its high-end graphic capabilities. His week-long fellowship begins on June 21.