pippin
This article is about the multimedia format and plug-in. For the game, see Shock Wave.
Logo for Shockwave web content authored with between 1995 to 1997.

Logo for Shockwave web content authored with Macromedia Director between 1995 to 1997.

Macromedia Shockwave, or simply Shockwave, was a multimedia format and platform that was developed by Macromedia to deliver web content that had been authored with Macromedia Director.[1] A separate application Macromedia Afterburner is used to compress the content to improve load times over internet connections.[2] Bandai Digital Entertainment included Shockwave support through browser software bundled with Pippin @WORLD consoles sold in the United States.[3]

History

Icon and logo of Macromedia's runtime player app that pre-dated Shockwave.

Icon and logo of Macromedia's runtime player app that pre-dated Shockwave.

Macromedia Player was an early runtime application for playing back content authored with Macromedia Director without having the authoring system itself, usually from local or physical media such as CD-ROMs. In 1996, Macromedia Director 4.0.1 introduced Shockwave support for multimedia content that could be delivered on the web.[1]

In September 1996, Pippin @WORLD consoles began shipping in the United States with the @WORLD Browser, which included plug-ins to support QuickTime and Shockwave content.[1][3]

Logos for and Shockwave web content by Macromedia before being acquired by Adobe in 2005.

Logos for Flash and Shockwave web content by Macromedia before being acquired by Adobe in 2005.

In December 1996, Macromedia acquired FutureSplash Animator, which became Macromedia Flash and eventually overtook Shockwave to become the leading multimedia plug-in for the web.[4] Macromedia Flash was occasionally referred to as "Shockwave Flash" and even shared the file format extension (swf), leading to confusion between the two. In 2005, Macromedia was acquired by Adobe Systems, which renamed the products to Adobe Flash and Adobe Shockwave.[5] Adobe discontinued support for Adobe Director and Shockwave in 2017.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chapter 29: Shockwave and Lingo by Richard Wainess, Web Programming Unleashed. Accessed 2018-06-26.
  2. ↑ Shockwave by Pamela Statz, Wired. 2010-02-15.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bandai Digital Entertainment selects Spyglass technology for Pippin @World Internet appliance browser, BusinessWire. 1996-09-09.
  4. ↑ The Life, Death and Rebirth of Adobe Flash by Christina Warren, Mashable. 2012-11-19.
  5. ↑ Macromedia Flash SWF File Format, Library of Congress. Accessed 2018-06-26.
  6. ↑ Adobe Is Killing Contribute, Director, and Shockwave by msmash, Slashdot. 2017-01-27.

External links