What is Shockwave?
Shockwave is a way of playing interactive programs in your Web browser. For Microsoft Internet Explorer, it is an ActiveX control. For other browsers, it is a plug-in. Either way, the Shockwave content can appear inside a Web page in your browser. Shockwave is made by Macromedia, which also makes the authoring tool (Director) that developers use to make Shockwave content.

What is Flash?
Flash is another way of playing interactive programs in your Web browser. For Microsoft Internet Explorer, it is an ActiveX control. For other browsers, it is a plug-in. Either way, the Shockwave content can appear inside a Web page in your browser. Flash is made by Macromedia, which also makes the authoring tool (also called Flash) that developers use to make Flash content.

How do I install Shockwave and Flash?
The best way to get Shockwave is to use the "Shockwave Player 10 Full Installer" available at http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/alternates/#sp. You can also download the "Flash Player 7" installer at http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/alternates/#fp. You can go to http://www.macromedia.com/support/shockwave/ to test and troubleshoot Shockwave.

How do it upgrade Shockwave and Flash?
Your Shockwave will contact Macromedia occasionally to see if you have the lastest version of Shockwave or Flash. Then, it will automatically download and install any new components. However for major upgrades you will have to follow the usual procedure of installing Shockwave. For Internet Explorer users, this will happen automatically as a new ActiveX control will be automatically installed the first time you hit a piece of content that requires a version of Shockwave newer than the one you have.

How do I tell which version of Shockwave and Flash I have?
Go to our Shockwave and Flash version test page. This will show you the version number of your Shockwave and Flash.

I can't get Shockwave or Flash to work, can you help?
All of our games require you to have either Shockwave or Flash to be able to play them. Shockwave and Flash are extensions to your Web browser. They are both made by Macromedia. You use Shockwave and Flash to view our games the same way you use Microsoft Internet Explorer or another browser to view text and graphics.
To help our users get Shockwave working, we have provided a lot of information on this page. However, please do not contact us about help getting Shockwave to work. Macromedia employs hundreds of people to build, maintain and support Shockwave and Flash. They are a company with a market capitalization of of about $4 billion. We have provided the information on this page to help, but please contact Macromedia, not us, about problems with Shockwave and Flash. Thanks.

How do I get help with installing Shockwave?
Shockwave is a Macromedia product. We only creates content using Shockwave. Here are Macromedia's support links:

Download the Shockwave Player Download the Flash Player Macromedia's Shockwave Player FAQ Macromedia's Flash Player Support FAQ Shockwave Test Page List of Shockwave Player Downloads Shockwave Player Privacy Contact Macromedia

What is a browser cache and how do I adjust it?
Your browser cache, also called 'Temporary Internet Files,' is a collection of files that your have recently accessed on the Web. Your browser saves them on your hard disk so that if you return to a Web page in the near future, your browser can display the content again without having to download the files again. This speeds up browsing. However, if there is an error downloading a copy of a file, like a game, then that bad file is saved in your cache as well. This means that returning to the game will result in the same bad file being loaded, rather than a fresh new file from the Internet. Many problems that our users experience can be fixed by clearing your cache or simply adjusting your cache settings.
Most users are using Microsoft Internet Explorer or a browser built on top of it. To clear the cache in Internet Explorer, choose the menu 'Tools' -> 'Internet Options.' Under the 'General' tab, look for 'Temporary Internet Files' and press the button 'Delete Files...'. You can also press 'Settings...' and choose 'Every visit to the page'.
For Macintosh Safari users, you can clear your cache by choosing 'Empty Cache' in the 'Safari' menu. If you are using another browser, look for 'cache' or 'temporary files' options in your settings or preferences for the browser.

All I get are broken puzzle pieces displayed on the screen when I try and play the games
This means you do not have Shockwave. Go to Macromedia's download area to get it, and Macromedia's support area for more help.

I can't get the game to work
The first thing you need to check is to see if ANY of the Shockwave games work for you. If none of them do, then you either don't have Shockwave or it is not properly installed. Go to Macromedia's download area to get it, and Macromedia's support area for more help.