Endless Thread Announcing 'Hidden Levels': how the videogame world has changed the world beyond videogames
Oct 6, 2025
Explore the fascinating intersection of video games and real life, from the iconic sounds that linger in our heads to the quirks of gamers mimicking NPC behavior. Discover the origins of in-app purchases, starting with a weapons store in Double Dragon 3. The hosts tease upcoming topics like the environmental impacts of gaming and the history of controllers. Join them as they delve into how games shape our everyday experiences, while unveiling the hidden levels of influence beyond just gameplay.
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Games Shape The Real World
- Video game design influences many everyday systems beyond entertainment.
- Hidden Levels will explore those broader effects for non-gamers and gamers alike.
Gaming Is Culturally Ubiquitous
- Games create pervasive cultural touchstones that nonplayers still encounter daily.
- Recognizing these influences reveals why gaming design matters beyond players.
Arcade Stores Prefigured Microtransactions
- Ben describes a 1991 Replay Magazine ad for Double Dragon 3 that featured in-game weapon stores.
- He connects that arcade mechanic to modern in-app purchases and their origins.