This is 99% Invisible.

I'm Roman Mars.

And I'm Ben Brock Johnson from the WBUR podcast, Endless Thread.

And today we're bringing you the first episode for our new collaborative series called Hidden Levels.

It's about how the world of video games has changed the world beyond video games.

In the next six episodes, we'll get deep into how games are made and designed.

Everything from the history of the joystick to how nature is faithfully recreated in the digital

world to a dispatch from the front lines of the console wars.

So, Roman, when did video games first change your world?

I mean, probably when I was in elementary school in the 80s, the arcade that I went to the most was a small section in a skating rink in Newark, Ohio.

And so I first learned playing

video games on roller skates, actually. That sounds impressive. How about you? I think, you know,

I didn't have an arcade spot, but one memory that is really strong for me is I had the luck.

My brother actually brought me to Japan when I was 12 years old, and I was really lucky to do that.

It blew my mind in so many ways.

But I went into a real deal Japanese arcade while I was there, and it was so incredible.

I mean, the different kinds of games you could play, the sites, really the sounds, too.

We are audio people, Roman.

I love sound first and foremost.

And that's what I think of sometimes when I think of video games.

Absolutely.

I'm exactly the same way.

...