| Almost 400 million people have installed the | | | | that the graphics capability of the Shockwave engine |
| Macromedia Shockwave player on their computers. | | | | can compete with or surpass that of the PSP or |
| This allows them to play free online games which | | | | Nintendo DS. While this is up for debate, there can be |
| have an astounding level of quality and detail. | | | | no doubt that Shockwave is a force to be reckoned |
| Shockwave is Macromedia's first multimedia player | | | | with. |
| and predates the existence of Flash. Though it was | | | | Games can be produced in Shockwave for any |
| specifically designed for movies, Shockwave has | | | | genre. Racing games, RPGs, fighting, and simulators |
| become the tool of choice for developing online | | | | are all currently available in Shockwave. Many of |
| games. | | | | these free online games require users to meet |
| The 3D engine used with Shockwave is the most | | | | certain system requirements in order to play them. |
| powerful in existence today for online games. It has | | | | This is the only downside which separates them from |
| surpassed even Java in popularity. Most developers | | | | console games. All games which are designed for a |
| now use this amazing tool to create free online | | | | specific console will work. With Shockwave you need |
| games. All flash files can be played in the shockwave | | | | to have a computer which is powerful enough to play |
| player. The Shockwave engine renders objects much | | | | them. The most powerful advantage Shockwave |
| faster than Flash, and it also works with the video | | | | games have over console games is cost. |
| hardware on the user's computer. The only problem | | | | While many of these games may be free, some cost |
| with Shockwave is that it is not available for Linux. | | | | as little as $9.95 per download. This is a lot cheaper |
| The Linux community is lobbying to change this. | | | | than the $40 you will pay for a PSP game, or the |
| The free online games produced using the | | | | $60 you will pay for an Xbox 360 game. As better |
| Shockwave engine are nothing short of impressive. It | | | | games are released in Shockwave, we may see a |
| is believed by many experts that further advances in | | | | shift in popularity from console games back to |
| this technology may allow it to compete with console | | | | computer games in the future. Shockwave has made |
| games in the future. While this may sound slightly far | | | | a huge impact in free online games and their |
| fetched, it is far from being impossible. Many argue | | | | developement. |