To a modern eye, Superman (Atari, 1979) may seem tiny and simple, but in fact it had many innovative features and was ahead of its time in many ways. Underappreciated in its day, and often criticized for its puzzling map topography, the game is in fact a triumph of minimalism and mechanics-driven design principles. A look back at what made this game so good will inspire contemporary game designers to do more with less, and show how a mechanics-driven approach to game design can result in a better finished product. (More detail): This talk is an elaboration of an article I wrote which can be found at https://csanyk.com/2014/02/topology-metropolis-superman-atari-2600/
