Announcing 'Hidden Levels': how the videogame world has changed the world beyond videogames
Oct 06, 2025•5 min
Listen to this episode in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Summary
Ben Brock Johnson and Roman Mars introduce 'Hidden Levels,' a new collaborative series from Endless Thread and 99% Invisible. This podcast explores the unexpected and profound ways video games and their design have influenced the world beyond gaming, appealing to both avid players and non-gamers alike. They preview topics like the origin of in-app purchases, iconic game sounds, and how games reshape our environment. The series launches October 7th, with new episodes every Tuesday and Friday.Episode description
Have you ever jumped on something as you're moving through the real world, and heard that Mario bouncy sound in your head? Or maybe seen someone acting like an NPC when they're a real person? Maybe you know that the first real "in-app" purchase was actually a weapons store in an arcade game version of Double Dragon 3.
Wherever you go in the real world, you can find signs of the influence of videogames. But you have to know where to look. That's why Endless Thread and 99% Invisible are launching a new limited series together called Hidden Levels.
Today Roman Mars and Ben Brock Johnson kick off the series with a little preview of what's coming.
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android