Getting Started Guide

1. Downloading Antstream Arcade

2. Creating a new account/Signing in

3. Account Management

4. Exploring Antstream Arcade

5. Challenges

6. Levelling Up

7. Earning Gems

8. Search Page

9. Profile

10. Messages

11. Input Devices (Gamepads, controllers, keyboards etc)

12. Reporting Bugs or Inconsistencies

1. Downloading Antstream Arcade

1.1. Where can I get Antstream Arcade?

Depending on the platform, these are the following places you can find and download Antstream Arcade:

Platform	Location
UWP (Windows 10)	Microsoft Store
Atari VCS	VCS
Win32 (Windows 8 and below)	Anstream Arcade Website
Android Tablet/Mobile	Google Playstore
Android TV (Nvidia Shield)	Google Playstore
Android Amazon (FireTV)	Amazon Store
Android Fire Tablet	Amazon Store
OSX (Mac)	Anstream Arcade Website

2. Creating a new account/Signing in

2.1. Creating a new account

1. Click the “Sign Up” button and enter your email in the email text field.
2. You will be directed to a password creation screen. The password must be at least six characters. Confirm this password in the field below the password field and click Next.
3. Enter a display name. This is how you will be identified by other users on Antstream Arcade. Choose something unique to you! We reserve the right to change any display names we deem inappropriate and will let you know by email.
4. You will be informed that your account has been created by a pop-up.
5. At this point, a validation email will be sent to the email you provided in step 1.
6. Click the validation link in the email to authenticate your account.
7. You will be asked to select an avatar, click next when you are happy with your avatar image. We reserve the right to ban any avatar we deem inappropriate if you have signed up through Facebook. We will not tolerate any derogatory or offensive images.
8. As the game catalogue loads, you will be asked if you would like to receive our Antstream Arcade newsletter. Pick yes or no and then select next to continue. (Please say yes, we send out cool retro articles!)
9. That's it! You are good to go!

2.2. Creating a new account through Facebook

1. Click the “Sign Up with Facebook” button, you should be directed to the Facebook login page. Once your information has been entered you should be directed back to the Antstream Arcade App.
2. Enter a display name. This is how you will be identified by other users on Antstream Arcade. Choose something unique to you!
3. You will be informed that your account has been created by a pop-up.
4. At this point, a validation email will be sent to the email you provided in step 1.
5. Click the validation link in the email to authenticate your account.
6. You will be asked to select an avatar, click next when you are happy with your avatar image. We reserve the right to ban any avatar we deem inappropriate if you have signed up through Facebook. We will not tolerate any derogatory or offensive images.
7. As the game catalogue loads, you will be asked if you would like to receive our Antstream Arcade newsletter. Pick yes or no then next to continue. (Please say yes, we send out cool retro articles!)
8. That's it! You are good to go!

2.3. Signing in

If you already have an account with us. Simply choose “Login” and enter your email and password. If you have logged in recently, you will be automatically taken to the Antstream Arcade homepage.

2.4. Signing in through Facebook

If you already have an account with us. Simply choose “Login” and press login with Facebook.

If you have logged in recently, you will be automatically taken to the Antstream Arcade homepage.

3. Account Management

3.1. Changing the display name

1. You can change your display name by going to the settings page.
2. Changing text in the Name field to replace your previous display name.
3. Remember to save your settings before leaving the page!

3.2. Changing Avatar

1. You can change your avatar by going to the settings page.
2. Press the Change Avatar button.
3. We currently don't support uploading personal avatars but will look to adding this feature in future.
4. Remember to save your settings before leaving the page.

3.3. Reset Password

1. From the Settings page under the Account tab, press the Reset Password button.
2. Enter your email in the email text field and click “send email”.
3. A pop-up confirming a password token has been sent to your email address will appear.
4. Enter the password token into the Token field.
5. Set a new password, then confirm this password in the field below.

This can also be done through the Login page.

4. Exploring Antstream Arcade

4.1. Playing a game session

From the homepage, you have an ever-expanding choice of games to choose from. Select a game from one of the carousels to view information about it, along with some screenshots.

Select it again to be taken to the games info page where you can choose to play or load a session.

4.1.1. Game session controls

Once the game is loaded. You can start the game by:

• Gamepad: Pressing the Start button.
• Keyboard: Pressing the Enter key.
• Mouse: Pressing the Play symbol to the top left of the screen.
• Touch: Tapping the Play symbol to the top left of the screen.

If you lose a game, you can start the game again/continue from a countdown by following the instructions above.

4.1.2. Pausing/Closing a game session

Any time during a game session you can bring up the pause menu by:

• Gamepad: Pressing the Back button or Holding down the Start button.
• Keyboard: Pressing the Esc key.
• Mouse: Pressing the Pause symbol to the top right of the screen.
• Touch: Tapping the Pause symbol to the top right of the screen.

From here you can:

• Resume the game session.
• Go to the How to Play page.
• Save the game
• Exit the game session.

4.1.3. Choosing a different platform

You can find out what platforms (e.g. C64, Amiga, Spectrum, Arcade, etc) are available for a game by using the search bar or by clicking the Platform button on the bottom left of the games information page.

4.1.4. Choosing a similar game

On the game information page, click the Similar tab to view games similar to this game. Maybe you’re a big fan of platformers, maze games or sports!

4.1.5. Favouriting a game

On the game info page, next to the Play button is a star you can toggle to identify which games are your favourites. These can be viewed in the Favourites tab on the Profile page.  

4.2. How to play page

A diagram for the available device inputs for that game. These include Gamepad, Keyboard and Touch diagrams. These can also be viewed during a game session by bringing up the Pause Menu and selecting How To Play.

4.2.1. Instructions

These are game specific instructions to help you get started. Some games may not have very descriptive instructions in-game so we recommend checking this page if you are having any difficulty.

4.2.2. Trivia

A fun and brief bit of trivia explaining the history or making behind the game.

5. Challenges

Games that have challenges are identified by a pink tag with a lightning bolt at the bottom right of the game cover. Most games have at least 5 challenges, ascending in difficulty.

Challenges must be unlocked with gems before they can be played. All Tier 1 challenges are unlocked from the get-go and are the easiest challenge within the set.

The harder the challenge is, the more gems are required to unlock the challenge. Harder challenges will earn you more gems.

Completing challenges will award you with gems, which in turn will unlock more challenges. Harder challenges will get you more gems, which can be used to unlock harder challenges.

Read more about Gems here.

When selecting a challenge to play you will be given two options:

5.1. Solo Challenges

Play the challenge yourself and get as high of a score as you possibly can. Challenges have three different score thresholds: Gold, Silver and Bronze.

5.2. Challenging another player

Send a challenge to another user and compete to get the best score and earn gems from them. Once you send a challenge to another user, they will get a message informing them.

• If you lose the challenge, the gems used to send the challenge will be added to your opponent's gem total.
• If you win the challenge, the gems used to send the challenge will be added back into your account as well as gems earned from the opponent. The amount of gems earned from your opponent is the same amount spent to send that challenge.
• If you both finish the challenge with the same score, the challenge will result in a draw and all gems spent will be sent back to you both.

The status of these challenges can be viewed in the Challenges tab on the Profile page.

6. Levelling Up

Ranks are earned by levelling up. This is done through gaining experience points.

Experience points are earned through completing challenges and acquiring achievements. Your rank can be viewed by other users and can be seen next to your avatar.

7. Earning Gems

Gems can be earned in various ways:

1. Received daily when logging in.
2. Won through beating challenges.
3. Won through beating an opponent in a challenge.
4. Earning achievements.

Read more about Gems here.

8. Search Page

The search function gives you the option to search for a specific game within the catalogue. Sometimes results will show two or more of the same game. This indicates that there are multiple platforms available for that game

You can see which platform the game is on from the tag on the bottom right of the game image.

9. Profile

9.1. Profile

Here you can view your progress on Antstream Arcade. This includes:

• Current avatar
• Current XP and Rank
• Number of completed achievements
• How many challenges you’ve won.
• Your favourite year, based on the games you’ve played.
• Recently played games (also found on the home page)
• Recent challenges

 

9.2. Challenges

This tab keeps track of all the challenges you’ve played a part in. This includes:

• Challenges you have won.
• Challenges you have lost.
• Challenges you have had a draw.
• Solo Challenges played
• Challenges Pending

9.3. Achievements

Achievements are displayed as cards earned through various tasked. Achievements not yet earned will show a progression percentage so you can see how close you are to earning them!

9.4. Social

Social lists all the users you are currently following. You can click their profiles and view their stats.

Social also gives you the option to invite people to play through Facebook and earn extra gems.

 

9.5. Favourites

Lists all the games you have favourited in your own personal menu.

10. Messages

Lists results, notifications of tournaments and challenges sent to you by other players.

11. Input Devices (Gamepads, controllers, keyboards etc)

11.1. Xbox One Wireless Controller

11.1.1. Set up the Xbox One Wireless Controller on PC

1. Navigate to “Bluetooth & Other Devices” under “Settings”
2. Press the “Add Bluetooth or other device”
3. Select “Bluetooth” on the “Add device” page
4. Hold down the Bluetooth button on your Xbox Wireless Controller (Looks like three waves, next to the micro USB port)
5. The device should appear as “Xbox Wireless Controller”
6. Select the device and they should begin to sync.
7. Once synced, you may have to wait for some drives to install
8. Your Wireless Xbox One Controller should now work with Antstream Arcade

11.1.2. Set up the Xbox One Wireless Controller on Android

1. Navigate to “Connections” found under “Settings”
2. Choose Bluetooth (Make sure Bluetooth is turned on)
3. Hold down the Bluetooth button on your Xbox Wireless Controller (Looks like three waves, next to the micro USB port)
4. The device should appear as “Xbox Wireless Controller”
5. Select the device and they should begin to sync.
6. Your Wireless Xbox One Controller should now work with Antstream Arcade

11.1.3. Set up the Xbox One Wireless Controller on OSX (Mac)

1. Navigate to “Bluetooth” found under “System Preferences”
2. Hold down the Bluetooth button on your Xbox Wireless Controller (Looks like three waves, next to the micro USB port)
3. The device should appear as “Xbox Wireless Controller”
4. Select the device and they should begin to sync.
5. Your Wireless Xbox One Controller should now work with Antstream Arcade

12. Reporting Bugs or Inconsistencies

There are several ways you can report bugs:

1. Send us a ticket here.
2. Go to Settings, then Support in Antstream Arcade.