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Antstream Arcade Twitch Superstar: Mel_Plays_Games




In our latest Antstream Arcade Twitch Superstar feature, we chat to another of the wonderful people spreading the retro gaming glory of Antstream Arcade via streaming platforms. This week, we proudly present Mel aka Mel_Plays_Games, answering questions on her gaming history, favourite games, Antstream Arcade and more. You can catch Mel on Twitch at and on YouTube.


On with the retro inquisition!





Antstream Arcade: Hello Mel! What are your earliest memories of gaming?


Mel: Hello! I remember sitting and watching my older brother play videogames all the time. [He] got me into gaming. I was around four when I first started to watch him play those classics on the Sega Master System or Commodore 64 and he helped me learn the basics. We played anything from Ultima to StarCraft and it opened a whole new world to me. It’s thanks to my brother I have such a deep passion for gaming today.


AA: Well done big bruv! What was the first videogame that really captured your imagination?

Mel: Captain Comic. It was the first game I played without the help of my brother – he let me sit

there and try to figure out everything on my own. I was in awe of how cool the graphics were back

then, and loved the different worlds, level design and colour. It piqued my creativity and interest and I wanted to make levels, creatures and lore by the time I was seven. I made my first “gaming

manual” inspired by the game with my own illustrations and description.



AA: What’s your favourite era for gaming?


Mel: The good old Nineties! The era of windbreaker jacket and boyband posters on the wall.

AA: How about your favourite game of all time?


Mel: Hardest question ever! There are so many, but if I had to pick one, I’m picking Suikoden 2 on

the PlayStation. The rich story just won me over, I love the music, the lovable characters and overall gameplay. It’s one of the best JRPGs I’ve ever played, for sure. Or should I go for Alex Kidd In Shinobi World on the Sega Master System?

AA: We didn’t say it was an easy decision! How did you start streaming?


Mel: I started making videos back in 2011 to help myself deal with my mental health and hope that someone on a bad day could find my videos and that that video could help make them feel better. I had the same mentality when I discovered Twitch in 2018, but I didn’t take it seriously until I got affiliated in 2019. The year after, I decided to start my rental challenge and the rest is history. I always have the clear goal of trying to provide a positive inclusive environment and to make someone’s day better if they decide to come and visit my channel.

AA: What’s the rental challenge about?


Mel: It’s a full time challenge where I will play a game from my list and the idea is to give that

nostalgic feeling of going to a rental store and not know what game you got stuck with for the entire weekend!


AA: How do you choose which games to stream?


Mel: My community has an online forum and Discord where they put game suggestions for me and I make a roster out of all the suggestions. Then I divide them into seasons with each one having 36 games. The rental challenge means I have to beat the game in four days – yes even the RPGs – and if I can’t, I move onto the next game in the list.

AA: Sounds a blast! But what’s it like streaming Antstream Arcade?


Mel: The responses are always positive. My community loves it when I do Antstream Arcade rentals and when new people come in they wanna know how and what it is and where to get it! It’s such a great platform with a mass of variety in games. I think the tournaments are also super fun and bring back memories of going to the arcades and trying to beat your friend’s high score! I recommend any retro lovers to install Antstream Arcade.

AA: As a valued member of the Antstream Arcade streaming community, do you have any

recommendations on how we can improve?


Mel: I think a better favourite section would be good so you can see all of them in one list and go

through it better. Also a better way to browse through the games in the main menu. If I want to

check out Antstream picks of the play again section, I’m limited to only a few games on the screen – arrows or a button would be useful to help you see more. Finally, how about a flashing light/epilepsy warning?

AA: We’ll get on it! Finally, Mel aka Mel_Plays_Games on Antstream Arcade, on a scale of 1 to 10,

how geeky are you?


Mel: If I could pick it, I’d go for a million. But yes, definitely a high 10 for sure!

Don’t worry Mel, our Geek-o-meter goes up to 11! Our thanks to Mel for her time – stay tuned for another Antstream Arcade streaming superstar profile soon!




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