Which video codec is most common
by Andy Hawkins · in Torque Game Engine · 06/04/2006 (2:27 am) · 5 replies
I just wanted to know the consensus on which video is the most common across Mac, Pc and Linux. The reason I ask is I want to produce some tutorial videos for content packs and resources and I want to know which codec people prefer.
For best memory size SWF is my favourite, and for 3d sequences, I would choose XVid. Are these compatible on all platforms? Which ones do you prefer? AVI, MPG, Divx et al?
For best memory size SWF is my favourite, and for 3d sequences, I would choose XVid. Are these compatible on all platforms? Which ones do you prefer? AVI, MPG, Divx et al?
#2
06/04/2006 (11:15 am)
MPEGs can be viewed on all three platforms and don't involve being codec wrappers such as MOV or AVI's. 
#3
I will admit that SWF video can do the job in a pinch, provided your end user has a good enough system to pull down the stream and handle the decompression and that you can put up with their hackity crappy code to work with it. The other big issue I have with SWF is that it requires users to go through plug-in updates for their browser, something most people are not likely to do.
In theory Theora should do the job for you too, but I haven't worked with the format all too much and have heard that the TGE 1.4 code for it isn't too shit hot to work with.
Aside from that the only other reliable codec option that you have available in say an AVI format would be Cinepak which does average compression and quality. Formats like DivX/Xvid, Indeo, Sorenson, etc. all require either a 3rd party install (which people do not like or want to do) to play and you have to worry about what version the end user is running.
So the long and the short is that you are in a bind if you plan on game video for a low budget indie production. Personally if you plan to go with video, I would invest in something like Bink (or similar pro tool) to get the job done right.
Logan
06/04/2006 (11:29 am)
I agree with what David has said. If you want a pretty fool proof video format MPEG is probably your best bet. Its old and its reliable so what more do you need? :)I will admit that SWF video can do the job in a pinch, provided your end user has a good enough system to pull down the stream and handle the decompression and that you can put up with their hackity crappy code to work with it. The other big issue I have with SWF is that it requires users to go through plug-in updates for their browser, something most people are not likely to do.
In theory Theora should do the job for you too, but I haven't worked with the format all too much and have heard that the TGE 1.4 code for it isn't too shit hot to work with.
Aside from that the only other reliable codec option that you have available in say an AVI format would be Cinepak which does average compression and quality. Formats like DivX/Xvid, Indeo, Sorenson, etc. all require either a 3rd party install (which people do not like or want to do) to play and you have to worry about what version the end user is running.
So the long and the short is that you are in a bind if you plan on game video for a low budget indie production. Personally if you plan to go with video, I would invest in something like Bink (or similar pro tool) to get the job done right.
Logan
#4
06/04/2006 (4:41 pm)
Hmmm I think MPEG1 is the beef then... I assume it is a preloaded codec for all OS's?
#5
06/04/2006 (5:57 pm)
MPEG1/2 should be good in Linux/Win/Mac. Windows Media Player can play MPEG's natively, as can Quicktime. I'm pretty sure that the media players for Linux flavors can as well since most of the ones I've played with had demo movies in MPG format to test the player and device. 
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