RIT’s Stephen Jacobs named visiting scholar at Strong National Museum of Play

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A. Sue Weisler

Steve Jacobs

The International Center for the History of Electronic Games at Strong National Museum of Play has added RIT professor Stephen Jacobs to its staff as a visiting scholar.

Jacobs, an associate professor of interactive games and media in RIT’s B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, will advise and assist in the development of eGameRevolution, a major, original exhibit that will invite guests to experience electronic games—both old and new—as they learn about their history and influence on the way people play, learn and live.

The highly interactive, 5,000-square-foot exhibit is scheduled to open at Strong Nov. 20 and will feature two dozen operating video arcade games, as well as a variety of historic and contemporary home console and personal computer games that guests will be able to play.

Jacobs will advise and assist in the interpretation of e-game related collections, contribute to the center’s blog, edit a themed electronic play issue of American Journal of Play, the museum’s scholarly quarterly, and assist in developing grant applications.

“We are delighted to have Steve Jacobs bring his knowledge, creativity and passion for video games to the development of eGameRevolution and other efforts,” says G. Rollie Adams, president and chief executive officer of Strong.

Jacobs, who also serves as the director of RIT’s Lab for Technological Literacy, is excited to team with the center.

“I’ve been a fan of the museum since I moved to Rochester in 1989 and its evolution over that time has been nothing short of amazing,” says Jacobs. “Strong National Museum of Play and the International Center for the History of Electronic Games are vibrant, exciting places to visit and I’m really excited to have this opportunity to work with them as they grow their efforts in the field of electronic games. What’s more, our relationship has already begun to open doors for RIT students and faculty to work with them as well.”