Page 1 of what`s the best way to record onscreen PC action?

If I`m playing a game on WindowsXP and I want to record the footage, what`s the best way to do this? I just want to be able to create video that I can burn to a DVD.

Anyone got any ideas?

Cheers!

Anil
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Anil K, the original rock hard Ninja and Vampire Hunter
Site Reviewer, DVD Reviewer
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How about hooking the TV out and Headphone jack to your DVD recorder???


Or, there`s always the old camcorder trick ;)

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thanks for the reply Jim, but I`m looking for something simpler that can be done all on the one PC. Record to harddisk and then archive that on a DVD.

I run a games development studio and want to create walkthroughs for games, hence the need to record the output. I don`t want to divert programmers into writing the application if we can just buy a, relatively cheap, piece of software/hardware that`ll do what we need.

Anil
_____________________________________________________________
Anil K, the original rock hard Ninja and Vampire Hunter
Site Reviewer, DVD Reviewer
My YMDB Top 20

This item was edited on Wednesday, 19th November 2003, 13:16

Maybe use the video out to input to a second PC that has a PVR application and capture card. I think you`ll be hard pushed to have a game running and capturing all the action into a video file at the same time, without it being very jerky.

OR , if you have a SMP machine, maybe a video capture card with a PVR application in the same machine, and just link the video out to the capture card. Running the game and PVR application on seperate CPU`s and with enough RAM it might be ok.

Would that Windows recorder software work? The one you can use to do software training videos.

Nick

Try HyperCam. It`s good for recording stuff on the desktop, but won`t record overlays like video and games.

Expect the worst and you won`t be disappointed!

cheers for all the replies chaps. I`ve just dloaded and used Techsmith`s SnagIt which can capture DirectX as well as anything on the Windows desktop. Seems pretty good at capturing me playing Mahjongg. Now I have to create a proper little demo for the programmers, don`t want them thinking all I do is play games all day.... ;-)

Gareth, I`ll try out HyperCam in the event that SnagIt comes up short. Cheers!

Anil
_____________________________________________________________
Anil K, the original rock hard Ninja and Vampire Hunter
Site Reviewer, DVD Reviewer
My YMDB Top 20

A little update. Having used SnagIt and now HyperCam, HC works better. It`s easier to setup and use and works with our games, albeit running in a window. It`s fine for what we need, and just $30 registration. Thanks again all!

Anil
_____________________________________________________________
Anil K, the original rock hard Ninja and Vampire Hunter
Site Reviewer, DVD Reviewer
My YMDB Top 20

another nice little proggy is Fraps.

Can record from directly inside a game :)

http://www.fraps.com/

Also dont forget that google is your friend ;)