Antstream Arcade Net Yaroze Announce

Antstream :

London, UK – 12th November 2024 – Antstream Arcade, the world’s largest retro game streaming platform, is excited to announce the addition of classic Net Yaroze games to its ever-growing library of timeless titles coming November 12th, 2024.

Net Yaroze was a groundbreaking initiative launched by Sony in 1997, offering aspiring game developers the tools to create and share their own games on the PlayStation. Unlike expensive and complex development kits, Net Yaroze provided an affordable, user-friendly entry point, giving hobbyists and bedroom coders the chance to experiment with game design. For a nominal fee, users received a black PlayStation console, special software, and access to a supportive developer community, with technical guidance from Sony. This initiative marked a significant step in democratising game development, laying the foundation for the indie game movement that thrives today.

Beyond the technical resources, Net Yaroze fostered a vibrant community of creators who collaborated and shared their work through online forums. While commercial release wasn’t possible, many unique and inventive games were born from the platform, some of which were featured on demo discs and gaming magazines. However, many of these titles are now considered “lost media,” as few copies or records of the games exist today. 

A generation of developers got their start with Net Yaroze, with many going on to have successful careers in the gaming industry. It was a proving ground for creativity, showing how passion and ingenuity could overcome limited resources. Net Yaroze’s legacy endures, and by bringing some of the iconic titles from the past to Antstream Arcade, we’re giving players access to the pioneering spirit of independent gaming that defined the Net Yaroze era.

https://youtu.be/JcqT8UxwBXo?si=p5pNjcHyMjJm6WEN 

The collection includes standout titles like Time Slip, a puzzle-platformer with a unique time-manipulation mechanic. The game challenged players to navigate complex levels by creating clones of their character and rewinding time to solve puzzles. Despite its creativity and innovative gameplay, with few copies or playable versions available, it is a rare gem in the history of indie game development.

For those who enjoy puzzle-solving, Pushy IIb delivers addictive gameplay as players push crates and blocks to clear paths and reach the goal. Although it did not see commercial release, its lasting appeal lies in the way it bridged cultural and technical boundaries which made it particularly popular in Japan. 

Bouncer 2 took a different take on brick-breaker style games. With a quirky and challenging action theme, players controlled a spring-like character tasked with navigating through levels by bouncing around and through obstacles and enemies.  Its simple premise was enhanced by difficult physics-based challenges, making it both rewarding and frustrating for players.

Adventure Game brings a charming, exploration-based experience reminiscent of classic RPGs. Players navigate through dungeons, solve puzzles, and fight monsters, capturing the spirit of 90s adventure gaming with its retro aesthetic and challenging design.

In an early take on isometric mech combat, and written in just four months by its indie creator, Arena was a fast-paced, multiplayer-focused game. Its intensity and focus on player-versus-player combat made it a standout title for the program. It pitted players against each other in a top-down combat arena where quick reflexes and strategic use of weapons were key to victory.

Antstream Arcade's CEO, Steve Cottam, said: “We’re thrilled to preserve and celebrate the spirit of innovation that Net Yaroze games represent. These titles, created by passionate developers from around the world, offer a fascinating insight into the early indie gaming movement. We will continue working with these fantastic creators and developers to continue to bring new titles to the Antstream platform.”

With the addition of Net Yaroze titles, Antstream users can experience a new layer of retro gaming history, alongside thousands of arcade and console classics. The platform continues to build the largest, most diverse collection of retro games available for streaming.

Antstream Arcade is available from 32.99*, giving the player unrestricted access to all 1300+ games and all tournaments, challenges and more for an entire year. For a limited time, players can also purchase the lifetime subscription for a one-off payment from 72.99*. (*Local currencies & platforms apply.)
 

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Antstream Arcade is the world’s largest officially licensed retro game platform, featuring more than 1300 games available to stream. The extensive and impressive catalogue includes titles from the early systems like the Atari 2600 and Commodore 64, to Arcade classics and games from SNES, Megadrive, and PlayStation One, and even features newly developed arcade games. Tournaments and challenges mean that these classic games can be played in new ways, allowing players to compete with the active community. With the gaming service accessible on a multitude of devices, including PC, mobile, Xbox, PlayStation and more, Antstream ensures you can enjoy gaming anytime, anywhere!