Capturing video from computer?

Silent Avenger · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 9:16 pm

I know all of you have seen those videos of people playing video games on their computer such as WOW. I want to know how someone would go about doing that and any suggested software for doing so. My friend is developing a video game for our compsci class and he wants to know how he could capture some scenes of his game on video. Any help would be great.

Mazer · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:09 pm

The WoW lamers tend to use a program called Fraps, IIRC. I'm pretty sure there's also another one, the name of which escapes me.

Anyways, I'm told that the program works by watching all the DirectX calls being made and reproducing them to render a video. Thus, the videos don't include the sounds of the game, which is why the videos on google and youtube have (often crappy) music added.

neufelni · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:10 pm

You can use Windows Media Encoder. I'm not sure but I think it only comes with Windows XP Professional. You can used it to capture video of your screen along with sound. You can download it here

Mazer · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:15 pm

Hmm... or that. Just curious, how would that affect the performance of the game?

Silent Avenger · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:31 pm

Thanks for the help and tips guys. Anymore tips would be great because my friend isn't really into the whole media thing on his computer yet.

Nick wrote:

You can use Windows Media Encoder. I'm not sure but I think it only comes with Windows XP Professional. You can used it to capture video of your screen along with sound. You can download it here

Do you know if it's also on Windows Media Centre? My friend and I have Windows Media Centre (although I don't know why my friend has it on his computer since it's not a media centre ready PC) anyways I've done a system check on my computer before for all the computer stats and it says I have Win XP Pro when I actually have media centre.

RGB255 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:43 pm

wait how can your friend have media center if he doesn't have a media center pc?

[Gandalf] · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:47 pm

I'm pretty sure Media Center is just a different version of Windows, you don't need to have a certain computer to use it.

Mazer wrote:

Anyways, I'm told that the program works by watching all the DirectX calls being made and reproducing them to render a video. Thus, the videos don't include the sounds of the game, which is why the videos on google and youtube have (often crappy) music added.

That doesn't sound right... Fraps, IIRC, does include sound with your video. Also, aside from reproducing DirectX calls sounding like too much work, this program works with OpenGL games too.

This topic has been discussed many times already, for example here.

Silent Avenger · **Posted:** Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:54 pm

RGB255 wrote:

wait how can your friend have media center if he doesn't have a media center pc?

His computer has Windows Media Centre but the computer doesn't have all the proper hardware to use media centre properly. Anyways as [Gandalf] said it is pretty much just like a different version of windows. Oh and [Gandalf] you link only takes me back to the off topic forum.

rdrake · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:01 am

Silly children, this thread has been done already. Fraps costs money but works well. GameCam also works well but is free.

[Gandalf] · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:06 am

Yes rdrake, that would be in the link I posted. Wink

As for the wrong link, fixed.

Silent Avenger · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2006 12:19 am

Okay, thanks rdrake and [Gandalf].

TokenHerbz · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2006 5:23 am

Iv'e used both fraps and gamecam...

I do not recomend Fraps, As the films it makes are bulky in size, and run on a 30 second timer unless purchased.

game cam, Is much, much better. It has hotkey's, conterts files into small avi files, and dosn't cause game lag.

Mazer: Wow isn't lame Sad

HackerDan plays!

Tony · **Posted:** Sun Dec 03, 2006 2:25 pm

TokenHerbz wrote:

Mazer: Wow isn't lame Sad

HackerDan plays!

Dan hacks.. he's been banned on multiple occasions for doing things you're not supposed to.

Dan · **Posted:** Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:16 am

I also quite seeing that i was srounded by lamers......

Aucatly i think the word lame is being very very very nice to the game. I ended up hacking it just becues there was nothing better to do, they only banned me for a day or so then i canceled my acount the next month affter whondering why i was paying for this level of idioitcy.

TokenHerbz · **Posted:** Mon Dec 04, 2006 1:51 am

hehe yeah i canceld my account.... for now.

Im going to start playing when i get the Expantion.

For now, im going to get a Wii on the 9th and play that for a while!

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