Hidden Levels #5: Press B to Touch Grass

The podcast "Hidden Levels" explores the evolving relationship between video games and nature, featuring co-hosts Roman Mars and Ben Brock Johnson. The episode delves into how video games, particularly open-world games like Minecraft and Zelda, simulate nature and influence players' perceptions. It includes the story of Cassie, a Minecraft influencer known as Snifferish, who turned to video games to connect with nature due to health issues. The podcast also discusses how gaming technology, such as procedural generation and scanning, is used in real-world applications like digital twins for city planning and environmental conservation. Additionally, it addresses the environmental impact of the gaming industry and the potential for games to promote sustainability. The episode concludes with a side quest about a surgeon who believed video games could improve surgical skills.