For the last few years, Macromedia has wowed the computer industry with its suite of tools for creating interactive multimedia presentations. With Authorware, Freehand, and Director, developers have been cranking out high-quality interactive multimedia
presentations, games, and tutorials, and packaging them on CD. If you have an interactive tutorial on CD, chances are that Macromedia's Director was used, at least in part, to create it.
While Java and VRML developers were busy writing applets and creating demo worlds to place on the Web, Macromedia realized that it already had a powerful tool for creating dazzling interactive multimedia presentations. Unlike the upstart tools for
creating Java applets and virtual worlds, Macromedia's tools had already been used to create award-winning, interactive tutorials, games, and presentations.
All Macromedia had to do was figure out some way to compress its files (so they could fly through standard Internet connections) and develop a tool for viewing those files. Fortunately, Macromedia achieved both goals, determining a compression standard
and creating an outstanding viewer—Shockwave. Now, Macromedia presentations are dazzling Web users, just as they have dazzled CD users for years.
In this chapter, you learn where to go to download your copy of the various Shockwave add-ins for Internet Explorer 3.0, how to install the add-ins, and how to use them to view the many Macromedia files you'll encounter on the Web.
Shockwave is sort of like a video clip player, in that it enables you to play Macromedia Director "movies." However, the term "movies" doesn't come close to describing Director files. Although Director files can contain movie clips,
they also commonly contain still shots, animation, audio clips, three-dimensional objects, and controls. Think of a Director movie as a combination Java applet, VRML world, AU file, and QuickTime movie clip all rolled into one.
Because Director movies are such a hodgepodge of media, you don't really know what to expect when you encounter one. The Shockwave add-in runs right inside Internet Explorer 3.0's program window, and it doesn't offer any standard controls for
maneuvering through the file (as you find with VRML viewers). Instead, the controls are determined by the file's creator.
As with most viewers, however, there's not much to starting a Director movie (or a Freehand or Authorware file). After the Shockwave add-in is installed, you simply click on a link, wait till your computer downloads the file, and then start playing.
However, you do need a copy of Shockwave, and the next section tells you just where to get it.
TIP
Although Macromedia files are compressed, they can still be fairly large. Before you start downloading and playing any files, increase the cache size in Internet Explorer 3.0. Open the View menu, select Options, and click on the Advanced tab. Drag the Amount of disk space to use slider to the right to increase the cache size. Click OK.
To download Shockwave, connect to Macromedia's home page at
http://www.macromedia.com
and follow the trail of links to the Shockwave page that asks you to specify your operating system (see Figure 18.1). Open the Which platform do you use? drop-down list, and click on your operating system. Click on the Find Plug-Ins button.
During the writing of this book, Macromedia's Shockwave player worked exclusively with Netscape Navigator 2.0. Macromedia was planning on working with Microsoft to develop an add-in for Internet Explorer. Microsoft might design Internet Explorer 3.0 to
use the Netscape Navigator plug in, or Macromedia might develop a special add-in or ActiveX control for Internet Explorer. Macromedia's home page should have the latest information about using Shockwave with Internet Explorer.
Figure 18.1. Specify your operating system.
This displays a list of download sites where you can get the file that contains all the Shockwave viewers (for Director, FreeHand, and Authorware files). Click on the desired FTP link, complete the Save As dialog box, and wait as Internet Explorer 3.0
downloads the file.
This gives you a self-extracting file named something like n32z0002.exe. Change to the directory that contains the downloaded file, and double-click on it.
When you run this file, it creates three directories on your hard drive (Authware, Director, and FreeHand). Each directory is for a specific add-in—Authorware, Macromedia Director, and FreeHand. You can install any one of these viewers separately
or install all of them; each viewer plays a different Macromedia file type.
After you run the downloaded file, exit Internet Explorer 3.0, and then search your computer's hard drive to find out where Internet Explorer 3.0's executable program file is stored. This is usually in the Microsoft Internet directory, unless you
specified a different directory during the installation.
Make a note of the directory, and during the installation steps, make sure that Shockwave installs its add-ins in this same directory. If you install the add-ins in a different directory, Internet Explorer 3.0 might not be able to find them when it
encounters a Shockwave file.
Now, run the Setup file in each of the new Shockwave directories, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation (see Figure 18.2).
Figure 18.2. Shockwave installs itself. Just answer the questions.
After you've installed Shockwave, you can start playing files simply by clicking on a link. Go to Macromedia's Interactive Gallery page at
http://www.macromedia.com/Gallery/index.html
to test your new viewers. This page contains links to many Director, FreeHand, and Authorware files.
Macromedia also contains links to files at
http://www-1.macromedia.com/Tools/Shockwave/Gallery/index.html
(See Figure 18.3). Both of these pages contain enough links to keep you busy for hours.
Follow the trail of links to play some of these files. Figure 18.4 shows an interactive fortune cookie demonstration that you can find at
http://www.nets.com/lebow/fortune.html
Click on one of the spinning fortune cookies to crack it open and read your fortune.
Figure 18.4. You can crack open some virtual fortune cookies.
NOTE
When you connect to a page that contains a Macromedia file, a light gray Made with Macromedia icon appears as a placeholder while Internet Explorer 3.0 downloads the file. When the file is completely downloaded, the Macromedia file replaces the icon and starts playing.
Shockwave shocked the Web with its full-featured multimedia offerings. Because Macromedia's technology was well-entrenched in other fields long before it hit the Web, once it hit, it hit big. You can now find thousands of "Shocked" Web sites,
with thousands more on the way.
The following sections provide a brief tour of some of the best Shocked sites on the Web. Enjoy.
The Toy Story Concentration Game. Disney's Toy Story page is packed with links to the various characters of Disney's computer-generated animation flick, Toy Story. You can visit the home page at
http://www.disney.com/ToyStory
or go directly to the interactive computer game at
http://www.disney.com/ToyStory/toybox/shock.htm?GL=H.
The Toy Story computer game is a high-tech version of the age-old card game, Concentration. When the game is fully downloaded to your computer, you'll hear Woody scream Yeee-Haaa, and then a set of cards will appear on your screen (see Figure 18.5).
The goal is to flip a pair of cards (by clicking on them) and find two cards that match. When you find a match, the matching pair is removed from the screen. You win when all the cards are removed (when you find all the matching pairs).
Figure 18.5. Disney offers a Shockwave version of Concentration.
When you finish a game, you can click on the Reset Game button at the bottom of the game area to play another game. You can also click on the Change Level button to select a higher (more challenging) level of game play. In the upper two levels, you
have
to match three cards instead of two.
Sony Music: Deep Forest. Ever since the Beatles started making their own movies, pop bands have found the need to express themselves visually as well as through their music. In the 90s, pop bands have found that they can use CDs to combine
graphics, movie clips, and music to create multi-sensory collages for the computer.
Macromedia has now made it possible to transfer these CD presentations to the Web, and you can experience them at the Sony Music site at
http://mbinter.com/deepforest/df.html
When you connect, Shockwave downloads the Shocked file and starts playing it. You can listen to the short clips or click on an animated link to move onto another page (see Figure 18.6).
Figure 18.6. At Sony Music, you see and hear the music.
The Aurora Casket Company. For a morbid adventure into Shocked sites, try the Aurora Casket Company at
http://www.theinc.com/shock/aurora.html
This demo was created by the folks at The Human Element, Inc. When you connect to this site, a picture of the original staff at the Aurora Casket company pops up on your screen. Above this picture is a toolbar that enables you to shop around for a
casket or (if you prefer cremation) an urn. Figure 18.7 shows the resulting screen when you click on the Urn button. You can drag the urns to the display case to see how they would look in your study.
Figure 18.7. At the Aurora Casket Company, you can shop for urns.
As of the writing of this book, the American Casket Company page wasn't the easiest to navigate. After you've played with the urns, moving on to another area was a bit difficult. However, the site is an interesting demo of how you can use Macromedia
software to market your product or service on the Web.
Allen Interactions. One of the few Authorware files you can play over a modem connection, Allen Interaction's demo displays a brief tutorial on how to take photographs with a 35mm camera. Because Authorware files are so large, this demo takes a
long time to download even if you have a 28.8Kbps connection. However, the demo is smooth after you've nabbed it.
After you connect to the site at
http://www.alleni.com/camera/camera2.html
the demo plays in a separate Authorware window. You might have to change to this window to view the demo. Click on the Continue button at the bottom of the opening page to view the start of the tutorial. Here, you have access to buttons for various
lessons, including Parts Review, Settings, and Simulation (see Figure 18.8). Click on a button to view the desired lesson. This is a good way to learn your camera settings without wasting film.
Figure 18.8. At Allen Interactions, you can view a tutorial on how to take 35mm photos.
The Settings lesson displays a camera, where you can change the ISO/ASA, aperture, and shutter speed settings to control the film's exposure. A set of small photos at the top of the screen show the effects of the selected settings, so you can test your
expertise. When you're done, click the Continue button, and then click the Simulation button to try your hand at taking some "real" photos.
SPG Staff Blast. If you're into violent computer games like DOOM, try Staff Blast at
http://www.dmc.missouri.edu/shockwave/blast.html
Here, you aim a virtual reality gun (your trigger finger) at various members of the SPG staff, and blast them. Their reactions to being shot are a hoot.
Watch for the people behind the room dividers, and try to bag Myra before she reaches the color copier. The only trick to this game is that your "gun" doesn't point up, so it's a little tough to shoot the people in back. Just make sure the
crosshair pointer is on the person you're trying to nail. See Figure 18.9.
Figure 18.9. Blast away at staff members.
The X-Files. Fox's X-Files site at
http://205.217.46.35:80/staff/rick/x/
brings the famous TV show to the Web. Here, you'll find links to your favorite episodes. You can even watch Agent Scully morph into Agent Mulder (I always wondered about those two), and read an interview with David Duchovny (non-Shockwave, of course).
See Figure 18.10.
Figure 18.10. The X-Files does the Web, Shockwave style.
To learn about Macromedia's products and services, go straight to the source—Macromedia's Support Page, at
http://www.macromedia.com/Tools/Shockwave/Support/support.html
Here, you'll find links to Director, Shockwave, and FreeHand help, in addition to information about Shockwave.
If you want to learn how to create your own multimedia games, presentations, and tutorials for CD distribution or to place them on the Web, you can order the CD Macromedia Teaches Director, an online tutorial created with Macromedia, about Macromedia's
Director, and by the staff at Macromedia. Order it online at the MacroMall for a mere 59 bucks.
If you decide to start using Macromedia products, return to this site for the latest technical notes and product updates, to learn where you can go to take classes, and to find out about Macromedia users groups on the Internet.
In this chapter, you learned how to use Shockwave to experience interactive multimedia on the Web. In the next chapter, you'll explore three-dimensional, interactive worlds using various VRML viewers.
