Hidden Levels #1: Mr. Boomshakalaka

In this episode of 99% Invisible's collaborative series "Hidden Levels," Roman Mars and Ben Brock Johnson delve into the impact of video games on the broader world, starting with the story of NBA Jam and its iconic voice actor, Tim Kitzrow. The episode explores how NBA Jam captured the energy of 90s basketball with digitized graphics and over-the-top gameplay, highlighting Kitzrow's influential voice work and the game's cultural impact, including its influence on NBA commentators. The hosts further discuss hidden design details within NBA Jam, such as secret playable characters, in-game cheat codes, and a secret homage to the game Battlezone.