The Observer, November 18, 2005
Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11
Case student one of Cleveland's "Most Interesting People"
As Case students, we all know our share of people who we can describe as interesting. That kid who speaks in only haiku – interesting. That guy who doesn't wear shoes – also interesting. What about the computer science major who creates and publishes his own original (and successful) video game? While Case students may envision that scenario as one of a creature in its natural habitat, the editors of Cleveland Magazine found one individual who did just that interesting.
Junior John Tantalo, creator of the free webgame Planarity, was honored with 29 others at the magazine's "Most Interesting People 2006" party last Thursday evening – ranking him among the most interesting people in the city of Cleveland. Along with the other winners – which include Cleveland Indian Grady Sizemore, The Plain Dealer's fashion editor, Kim Crow, and Elizabeth Kucinich – Tantalo will be the cover story of the January issue of Cleveland Magazine.
What makes the game and Tantalo so interesting is the fact that it has taken the world by storm.
Said Tantalo, "There are tons of games on the web, dozens published every day, but rarely can you attach a name or personality to a game."
Planarity, which involves detangling the vertices of a shape on a plane, was created in a joint effort by Tantalo and his girlfriend Mary Radcliffe, a math major at Western Michigan University. Since its creation last July, Planarity has received 2.1 million hits, and has piqued the curiosity of people all around the globe. He set up a blog-like system, encouraging people to offer suggestions for improvement and then adjusted accordingly; a level of accessibility which Tantalo attributes as the reason for his recognition by the magazine. The game, which has proven addictive despite its increase in difficulty by level, was featured in The Plain Dealer this summer, as well as wired by the Associated Press to several media outlets throughout the country.
The attention has opened several doors for Tantalo. Aside from the award, he has received financial support for his game through PayPal donations, has been extended scholarship and job offers, and is now the subject of several blog entries – all of which are only the tip of the iceberg for Tantalo.
However, he seems to have taken all this newfound fame in stride. "I don't see why publishing a game is inherently interesting. I guess my case just was, because the game was very popular," he said, "I'm interesting to myself, but would other people find me interesting? I doubt, but you'll have to ask them."
If the Cleveland Magazine article is any indication, then the people have answered with a resounding "yes."
In addition to creating video games in his spare time, Tantalo is a student programmer for information services and support (of university relations) doing assistant database application programming and works as sports layout editor for The Observer. Look for the story when Cleveland Magazine hits news stands in January. Planarity can be accessed at www.planarity.net.
