Adobe (formerly Macromedia) Shockwave Player is the web standard for powerful multimedia playback. Shockwave Player allows you to view interactive web content like games, business presentations, entertainment, and advertisements from your web browser. You can enjoy multimedia games, learning applications, streaming audio, interactive animation and product demonstrations on the Web, using exciting new 3D technology.

Over 480 million Internet-enabled desktops have installed Adobe Shockwave Player in mature markets around the world. These people now have access to some of the best the Web has to offer - including dazzling 3D games and entertainment, interactive product demonstrations, and online learning applications. Shockwave Player displays Web content that has been created by Adobe (Macromedia) Director.

The difference between the Flash and Shockwave Players :
Flash and Shockwave Players are both free web Players from Adobe. Together, they bring you the best rich media content on the Internet. Each has a distinct purpose. Flash Player delivers fast loading front-end web applications, high-impact web site user interaction, interactive online advertising, and short to medium form animation.

Shockwave Player displays destination web content such as interactive multimedia product demos and training, e-merchandising applications, and rich-media multi-user games. Through Xtras, Shockwave Player is also extendable to playback custom-built applications.