Quake3World

need to distribute a video clip to a bunch of people of varying technical ability - it's currently in some whacky divx format that i'd like to change to something that'll work on the widest variety of platforms possible.

some of them (the ones who've only ever used their pc to browse for child pron and play solitaire on the train) are bound to come back saying that they can't play it, and i want to keep the tech support to a bare minumum. the majority of them will be on windows, but it could be anything from a fresh win98 install to vista ladled with the latest .not.

so which video codec (within the mpg/avi stables) is the most widespread/likely to work?

i'd say klite

Ace Mega Pack ftw!

*Did you guys read the first post thoroughly?



4days, I'd say just use regular mpeg or basic wmv. :icon14:



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And as far a packs go....
CCCP for the real win...
Installing bloated packs likes thoes is retarded anyway...


*Revised to create you-attitude and create positive emphasis.

Bdw3 wrote:*Did you guys read the first post thoroughly?

no i did not

4days wrote:need to distribute a video clip to a bunch of people of varying technical ability - it's currently in some whacky divx format that i'd like to change to something that'll work on the widest variety of platforms possible.

some of them (the ones who've only ever used their pc to browse for child pron and play solitaire on the train) are bound to come back saying that they can't play it, and i want to keep the tech support to a bare minumum. the majority of them will be on windows, but it could be anything from a fresh win98 install to vista ladled with the latest .not.

so which video codec (within the mpg/avi stables) is the most widespread/likely to work?

it'd be easier to ship out a copy of media player classic or vlc than to give them some fat codec pack, imo.

it would be easer for you to Make a standalone EXE with a player ( see flash ) or just give them a Mpeg1, every computer reguardless of OS ( other then DOS ) has this Codec.

AmIdYfReAk wrote:just give them a Mpeg1, every computer reguardless of OS ( other then DOS ) has this Codec.

that's what i ended up doing, the downloads are huge but it makes my life easier

indeed, you will get people bitching about the download size.. but Meh, atleast they can play it!

If they're on the internets, give them a link to it on Youtube/Google video/Dailymotion. Definitely the most low-tech option.

Failing that, ship along a copy of Media Player Classic as mentioned (it's a single .exe file, no installation). Of course the usual problems with 'omg its teh exe call FBIs!' might arise.

Outside of that, WMV is a safe bet so long as they're all on MS systems, which judging by what you've said is gonna be the case. WMV is a bullshit format but MS has at least made it run on almost all of their systems.

the video is available to view online (as flv) with a download alternative (the fatty mpeg).

not arsing about with extras or any kind of complexity. the end users are IT support contractors for education. they barely know how to turn a computer on, let alone install software.