Summary
Antstream Arcadeis a unique streaming service that gives gamers access to a plethora of retro games covering titles from the 1970s through to new releases. Withover 1300 games currently in Antstream’s library, there’s sure to be something for everyone, and what makes it even more accessible is the fact that it’s now available on most modern platforms like PC, Xbox, and most recently, the PS5.
Game Rant recently caught up with Antstream Arcade studio head Mike Rouse to discuss the streaming service in detail. With plenty of new games and plans in the pipeline, Rouse discussedAntstream’s ambition to provide gamers with the perfect answer to all their retro gamingneeds. He talked about what is classified as retro, and why the huge amount of love for retro gaming will likely never go away.
Antstream Arcade Taps into Your Inner Nostalgia
Pinpointing What Qualifies as Retro is Not Easy
Games are becoming more and more complex as time goes on. As technology advances, the question of what classifies as retro gets more difficult to answer. To those born in the 70s and 80s,retro is closely linked to consoles like the NES, whereas for younger generations, anything up to the PS3 can be seen as retro. When asked for his take on it, Rouse explained that if he really had to pin it down, he would probably use the PS2 as the marker:
‘‘I think, if you were a historian, and you had to put lines in the sand, you would probably say everything up until PS1 is considered classic, and then modern was PS2 onward. But to be honest, my son and my nephew are 9 and 15, and they consider the PS3 a retro console. So, for them, they see retro and classic gaming through a very different lens.’’
Gamers have an extremely broad age range, so pinpointing an exact definition of retro is difficult. Whatever the official definition is, though, it can’t be denied that the pull of retro gaming is stronger than ever. This is evident throughout thevast number of retro gaming communitiesscattered across the globe, and it is in this large fan base that Antstream Arcade has its target audience. When asked exactly why retro gaming is still so popular, Rouse provided a simple, but effective, explanation:
‘‘I think it’s down to the fact that a great game is always a great game. It’s no different to music. People still listen to The Beatles, right? That’s just great music that people enjoy. I think it’s exactly the same with films too. My kids, at the beginning of the year, watched Back to the Future the first time, and their minds were blown. I think that’s true for any kind of entertainment medium. People enjoy well-produced games, films, and music.’’
Rouse makes an important point when comparing video games to movies and music. Movies likeThe GodfatherandJurassic Parkare considered timeless among film critics, in the same way as songs such as Michael Jackson’sThriller. Certain video games from the 80s and 90s, while having aged considerably from a visuals and mechanics standpoint, are held in equally high regard. Titles such as theN64’sSuper Mario 64are considered masterpiecesand are still regularly played today by gamers old and new. This appeal is a big part of the reason why Antstream Arcade is proving such a hit with the retro community, and, with plenty of announcements planned for further down the line, Rouse is confident its appeal will only get bigger.
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