DivX is the worldwide codec standard behind many of those compressed videos that are legally or otherwise downloaded from the net.

Of course, there are now hundreds of players out there that play DivX but whichever you use, your files need to be encoded in DivX to work properly. The only way to do this is to run them through a converter such as DivX 7 which converts your files to the latest version of the DivX standard. DivX 7 for Mac provides everything you need to enjoy high-quality digital videos including high definition H.264 (.mkv) videos with AAC audio.

The DivX for Mac download includes the DivX Player plus trial versions of the DivX Pro Codec (6-month trial) and DivX Converter (15-day trial). The DivX player is one of the sleekest out there featuring translucent windows, clean play controls and on-demand scrub bar. It will also play Quicktime and other popular formats. The converter is extremely simply to use as it merely requires you to drag and drop files into it's tiny interface. Conversions can be rather slow though depending on the size of the file you want to convert.

DivX 7 takes DivX to new levels of quality although since so many other players now playback DivX, the price to upgrade may put off many. If you want the real deal with the converter as well though, DivX 7 promises the best and most accurate DivX conversions and playback

Download DivX 9.1.0 in Softonic

VLC media player nightly supports partially encrypted Blu-ray discs and brings a more polished look and enhancements to the options and codecs in this flexible player. VLC media player nightly is more visually striking with a new sidebar allowing quick access to your playlist, media folders or online streams. The final version will also include a search tool so you can find missing media much more easily than before.

Blu-ray support

The most important feature in VLC media player nightly however is Blu-ray support. However, for legal reasons, it will only open partially encrypted Blu-ray discs. It can also now output audio to Android and iOS devices. Note that it can also be quite unstable as this is effectively a beta release of VLC media player.

VLC media player nightly is an exciting glimpse at how VLC media player will look and finally supports Blu-ray discs.

Download VLC media player nightly 2.1.0 in Softonic

Note that RealPlayer Gold was the original version of RealPlayer which went "Gold" after beta testing was finished between versions 10 to 11. After that however, RealPlayer confusingly went back to version 1 again with RealPlayer SP although even more confusingly, the latest version is labeled version 12.0.0 in the program's "About" section but version 1.0 on the Real download site. RealPlayer Gold however remains very popular because it offers extra features that have been removed in SP and you can still download it here on Softonic even if it's not apparent on the RealPlayer site. We assume that the reason RealNetworks did this, is to try and encourage people to pay to upgrade to RealPlayer SP Plus.

The installation process is a bit annoying because to configure RealPlayer SP, you have to shutdown your browser. However, you can still configure it afterward even if you don't so my guess is that it's trying to install itself as your default player by asking you to shutdown and restart your browser first. In addition, the RealPlayer converter comes as a separate program with this download and has to be installed separately although it works well convering Flash to H264 for example and automatically adding tracks to iTunes. You're also prompted to install the Real agent which will sit quietly in your system and help you download Real compatible videos when needed.

There is wide support for most major video formats although audio such as ACC+ isn't supported. Also, although it is supposed to be compatible with Adobe Flash 10, many users have reported problems when trying to play it over long periods and RealNetworks suggest going back to Flash 9.

While RealPlayer SP may lack some of the functionality of Gold - mainly the absence of a CD burner - it's certainly a more modern player designed for the social networking and mobile era. RealPlayer SP for Mac lets you download online videos from thousands of sites and transfer them to your iPod, iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry or other mobile device. Tranferring video is easy courtesy of an on-screen menu within the main screen itself simply labeled "convert".

RealNetworks have also introduced features such as PerfectPlay and LivePause, a new Playlist window and the ability to play Windows Media content. There have also been improvements in the way RealPlayer handles streaming and buffering courtesy of TurboPlay for fast connections and RealVideo 9 and RealAudio Surround for the needs of HDTV. There's also a RealPlayer downloader integrated which means that you can download Real media video and audio to your Mac.

One of the most annoying aspects of RealPlayer releases is that they often take a while to start because of the various plugins they use but RealPlayer SP is pretty snappy. The removal of the CD burner from RealPlayer SP however is a shame but overall, it's a vastly improved media player.

RealPlayer SP is RealNetworks slickest and most advanced media player to date.

Download RealPlayer SP 12.0.1 in Softonic

Synthesia started life as 'Piano Hero', obviously trying to cash in on the Guitar Hero genre of music games.

The more sensibly named Synthesia is meant to be a gentle introduction to playing the piano on your Mac, although it's hardly a beginners tool. Firstly, you should note that without a real keyboard to plug into your Mac, playing it on your keyboard isn't much fun at all. To avoid any copyright problems, most of the songs in Synthesia are taken from old computer games such as Zelda and Bubble Bobble and you have to follow the falling bars on the keyboard to press the right keys.

This is extremely hard when key strokes can be within a millisecond of each other so you end up rapidly mashing your fingers into the keyboard. After you've finished, you get a nice little appraisal of your performance with a grade such as A, B and C etc. The program is simple to use and well presented but without a proper piano or synth keyboard, you can't do it justice.

If you're a piano player and have an external keyboard, you'll enjoy Synthesia - but without one, it's not much use.

Download Synthesia 0.8.3 in Softonic

Call of Duty has established itself as one of the greatest game series ever. With consistently improving graphics and AI, one of the only real criticisms it has faced of late was the repetitive nature of its setting. World War II is a fascinating, multi-theater world for games to approach in many ways: but how about something different? Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the answer to that request. This game plunges you head-first into a present-day battlefield, even more fast-paced than its predecessors.

Call of Duty 4 features a range of combat situations, including the use of anti-tank weapons, the destruction of an anti-aircraft battery and at least one seriously fast-paced, confusing fire fight. The graphics in Call of Duty 4 are top notch, and we didn't notice any lag even at higher-end settings, although older Macs may struggle. There's also a multi-player mode if things get a bit to easy or dull.

Call of Duty 4 is built on a new proprietary engine which offers much better support for up-to-the-minute lighting effects, clearly visible in this test mission. Another aspect of the new engine makes for a really interesting change to gameplay. Some forms of cover (a light wooden fence, for example), won't offer you much protection like they did in years gone by. While buildings are not destructible, many elements of the Call of Duty 4 environment (like cars and, yes, light wooden fences) are easily destroyed with gunfire. Heavier weapons can cut through heavier cover too, "Shoot them through the wall!" you're ordered at one point.

All this added realism makes the general quality of Call of Duty 4 gameplay really high. We noticed great improvements in AI, even on easier levels of difficulty where previous games may have left you feeling somewhat silly.

One slight disadvantage of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare on Mac is that you can't use a trackpad as it requires a mouse with a right-click button. It's also a pretty hefty file at around 7GB and it demands a lot from your CPU and RAM - ideally you need a MacBook Pro to prevent any lag.

Fast paced, intense and varied: awesome graphics and involving gameplay make Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare a must-have for any self-respecting gamer.

Download Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for Mac 1.7.2 in Softonic

It is indeed bloated and often intrusive but RealPlayer has a lot of functionality - it can do a hell of a lot from streaming radio and video to burning CD's but it's often slow and cumbersome. In this latest release of RealPlayer, there is an included conversion program with a bunch of different devices it can re-encode video for. This is really handy if you want to take some videos on your portable device. Conversions in RealPlayer take a while, so be patient.

The most recent incarnation RealPlayer SP has done much to solve stability and streaming problems and also includes ways to share videos on mobile devices as well as download videos that are absent from RealPlayer. There's also a handy integrated RealPlayer Downloader for downloading RealPlayer clips for viewing later or sharing with friends.

In saying this, RealPlayer isn't bad at all. It's comparable to Windows Media Player as they both have some impressive ways of organizing your music and for me the best feature is the CD burner which is one of the easiest burners I've ever used.

RealPlayer is a bit of a bloated media player, which is slower and less user friendly than the competition but includes handy downloading and conversion features that may benefit some users.

Download RealPlayer Gold 12.0.0 1725 in Softonic

Important Note: There are now two versions of this encoder: ffmpegx for OS X 10.7 Lion users and ffmpegx for OS X 10.3-10.6.

When there were barely any decent applications to convert to DivX, ffmpegX was a true godsend. It is still a very good converter which handles a lot of audio and video formats, but it now faces competition from newer and very reliable alternatives such as Handbrake.

After nearly a two year wait, during which we really thought ffmpegX had been abandoned, the application finally got an update, which fixed a few minor issues, yet still keeps the old, Panther like interface.

Converting media is generally quick and easy, and one of the strengths of ffmpegX is all the different audio and video formats you can choose from. The program also includes a rather basic, yet necessary, media player so you can preview your newly encoded videos before burning them or storing them on your mobile device. If you dig in the settings you'll see you can perform all sorts of advanced functions like joining, fixing or authoring videos and creating an img. Advanced users will also be able to set bitrate and all sorts of video parameters.

Another strong point of ffmpegX is that it can convert your subtitles, not only to DVD Studio Pro 1.5 format but also to the more common SRT format. This, and the range of encoding formats to choose from, still make it an essential tool for any true video addict.

Still, ffmpegX is not for beginners, as it is filled with settings and tools, that only confirmed users will feel comfortable with.

We hope that we won't have to wait as long for the next update, and that ffmpegX will keep offering new encoding features. For now, it still remains an excellent audio and video encoder with great subtitle support.

Download ffmpegX 0.0.9y Lion r2 in Softonic

The main aim in KSP is to build a space-worthy craft, capable of flying it's crew out into space, without killing them. At your disposal are a collection of parts, which must be assembled to create a functional ship. Each part has a different function and will affect the way a ship flies:

Kerbal Space Program allows players to design, build and pilot a space vehicle from pre-fab modules. These modules or parts include engines, fuel tanks, and wings and to make things more interesting, additional parts such as bombs, payloads and landing gear have been added to the game by players.

Some of the most notable features of KSP are:

At the moment there is only one planet - Kerbin - which you launch from and its moon, known as the Mün. There is also a sun called Kerbol. Kerbin and the Mün travel along an orbit, with Kerbin orbiting the sun and the Mün orbiting Kerbin thus emulating the Earth, Sun and Moon.

Like Minecraft, Kerbal Space Program leaves a lot of room for imagination. Players can create almost anything which has lead to the creation of several mods for the game which allow vehicles and other craft to be added to the game.

Kerbal Space Program has a small but thriving community of players although this looks set to expand as the developers plan to add more planets and moons, extra-vehicular activities and a space station. At the moment, Kerbal Space Program is free to play but it will eventually require payment to play once it has reached a higher level of development.

Kerbal Space Program is a unique and fun game. If you're a fan of Minecraft and have an interest in Space, you will particularly enjoy it.

Download Kerbal Space Program (KSP) 0.13.1 alpha in Softonic

Developed by Blizzard, StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty is split into three installments: the first game with the subtitle Wings of Liberty and two expansion packs: Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void. StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty is high on realism and works in two game modes: single and multiplayer.

There are various missions in StarCraft 2. You take command of a huge number of armies that are battling for supremacy and power. Your task is to give orders to your units and manage the battlefield. Every action, decision and strategy can affect and radically change the dynamics of the game which is what makes Starcraft 2 such an intense and absorbing game.

The online multiplayer mode of StarCraft 2 is heavily populated with players who you can talk to via live chat. Technically, Starcraft 2 has very good graphics although this is one area that could have been improved. However, the attention to detail is superb and most importantly, the gameplay is very addictive.

Download StarCraft 2 Wings of Liberty 1.4.2 20141 in Softonic

StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty, to give it its full name, is split into three installments: the first game with the subtitle Wings of Liberty and two expansion packs: Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void. StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty is high on realism and works in two game modes: single and multiplayer.

There are various missions in StarCraft 2 although in this special Starter Edtition, you can play for free the first four phases of the Campaign mode of StarCraft 2. StarCraft 2: Starter Edition also allows you to play two challenge missions: Tactical and Covert Operations Command. All progress and points earned can be retained and carried over to the full edition should you wish to upgrade.

You take command of a huge number of armies that are battling for supremacy and power. Your task is to give orders to your units and manage the battlefield. Every action, decision and strategy can affect and radically change the dynamics of the game which is what makes Starcraft 2: Starter Edition such an intense and absorbing game.

The online multiplayer mode of StarCraft 2: Starter Edition is heavily populated with players who you can talk to via live chat. Technically, Starcraft 2 has very good graphics although this is one area that could have been improved. However, the attention to detail is superb and most importantly, the gameplay is very addictive.

StarCraft 2: Starter Edition is a great way to play StarCraft 2 for Mac absolutely free.

Download StarCraft 2: Starter Edition in Softonic

The military science fiction real-time strategy video game is a follow up to the hugely popular Starcraft released 12 years ago. StarCraft II will be split into three installments: Wings of Liberty (previewed here) and then two expansion packs, Heart of the Swarm and Legacy of the Void.

Presented here is the official trailer to StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty. The download is a Blizzard installer through which you can download and view the spectacular trailer. The download takes a few minutes but the trailer is in AVI format presented in glorious 1280x720 widescreen which you can watch in any media player supporting the AVI format.

Get revved up for one of the most anticipated gaming releases on Mac for years with this spectacular StarCraft II for Mac cinematic trailer.

Download StarCraft II Cinematic Trailer Wings of Liberty 1.3.4 18701 in Softonic

A game capable of attracting millions of players all over the world who religiously pay their monthly fee to play on World of Warcaft's online servers is certainly worth reviewing.

The story of Warcraft began in 1994 with the launch of Warcraft: Orcs & Humans, a real-time strategy adventure. Ten years and a few sequels later the series took the leap onto the online world with World of Warcraft, which has nowadays become the world's leading MMORPG.

Then launch the game, enter your username and password on the welcome screen and you'll be ready to join the adventure.

These are both important choices, as they will define the way you play WoW. For instance, playing as a warrior, who can withstand the most powerful attacks, is certainly not the same as playing as a priest, who specializes in healing other players.

Also, if you choose a PVP server (rather than a PVE one) you must be ready to fight other players as well as computer-controlled monsters. This is just the reflection of the battle between Alliance and Horde, the two warring factions in WoW.

Your main goal in the game is to raise your character from level 1 up to level 70, earning experience points by killing monsters and doing quests which may range from gathering a few flowers to killing a fearsome dragon hidden in its den.

The higher the level, the better the game objects (weapons, armor, spells, etc. ) you can use. Eventually you'll be able to buy the most expensive items, like a flying mount, and enter the most dangerous raids, some of which can only be successfully finished with a very well organized team of 40 players.

The atmosphere is enriched by natural sounds and excellent background music.

Download World of Warcraft 5.0.4 in Softonic

Whether its momentous battles from D-Day to Stalingrad, this Call of Duty Demo sees you in incredibly real terrain, fighting to the death. You choose to fight as American and British paratroopers or even a young Russian soldier conscripted into the Soviet Army.

You may find yourself cut off in a village in Normandy, battling to re-take Red Square, boarding and sinking a German battleship or rescuing Allied officers from a German stronghold. The Call of Duty Demo is all about teamwork as you battle to survive 24 different missions on four interconnected campaigns. To spice things up, you can even go online for Axis versus Allies multiplayer mode.

If you're good enough, Call of Duty sees you move through the ranks, taking on more dangerous missions such as sniper missions and ambushes until you are promoted to tank commander. For those with a taste for warfare and history, it's an utterly addictive combination.

The Call of Duty Demo gives you a taste of what to expect from this highly realistic war game.

Download Call of Duty Demo 1.0 in Softonic

In terms of originality, Teeworlds scores top marks. Described by some as "Cute little buggers with guns" it's an online multiplayer shooter that's tricky to get the hold of, but compulsive when you have.

If you've ever played Worms or Bubble Bobble then you'll find yourself at home with Teeworlds. Starting the game is almost as tricky as playing it though. There are very few instructions and on startup, you're asked to choose a character which all look the same, but with slightly different colors. After that, you're presented with a huge number of servers. Connect to one, and you'll be taken immediately to an online world of mayhem where the "cute buggers with guns" are going trigger crazy.

You can kick, hammer and shoot the other players online, all of which you're playing against in real-time. You can use the mouse to scroll across the world you're in but control of your character is limited to the keyboard which is a bit annoying. A/D moves your "Tee" left and right, W/spacebar makes it jump, and the mouse is used to aim and fire.

Your aim is to capture the flag without being beaten up by another gamer which is incredibly hard because you get bombarded from the word go. If you want to setup your server just to play against friends, then unfortunately you can't on a Mac yet, although it sounds like this will be fixed in future releases.

Fun, action packed and buzzing with gamer, Teeworlds will appeal to those who are familiar with games such as worms although others may find it too frustrating to understand

Download Teeworlds 0.5.2 in Softonic

The first time I ever used SlingPlayer, a friend in the US invited me to watch his Tivo, even though I was on the other side of the world.

It worked a treat and ever since then I've been a big Slingbox fan. SlingPlayer is simply the software you need for watching content delivered by a Slingbox. Firstly, note that you need the correct version for your country in order for it to work - the download provided here is for the US version but other country versions can be found on the developer link. Also note that you'll need a Slingbox connected to your TV or router top use it.

SlingPlayer incorporates the company's own SlingStream technology to ensure that streaming is constant and reliable. Obviously, the effectiveness of this will also depend on your Internet connection speed, although this shouldn't influence it too much. Setting up SlingPlayer is very easy to setup due to the remote viewing assistant, which takes you through the simple task of adding a Slingbox to your player.

SlingPlayer is very basic - there are very few preferences, which could be annoying if you want to configure your content to be delivered in a specific way. However, the main job of SlingPlayer is simply to translate what your SlingBox is sending, so the developers can be forgiven somewhat for that. Once up and running, you control SlingPlayer via a virtual TV remote control which is very similar to the one that accompanies most real digital boxes. This gives SlingPlayer a unique feel and provides a realistic digital box viewing experience.

If you've got a Slingbox then you have little choice but to download SlingPlayer so you can start to enjoy the content from your Tivo or digital TV box anywhere you take your Mac with you.

Download SlingPlayer 1.0.9 in Softonic

Online poker has to be one of the biggest-growing areas in online gaming and Scenario Poker brings Mac users the Texas Hold 'em version on their dashboard.

Scenario Poker allows you to play in a three-tier, freeze-out tournament against up to 27 simulated opponents. If you run out of chips, you're out but if you win everyone's chips, you keep advancing to the next table until you’re the champion. The good thing about this is that there's no real money involved or even the temptation to get real money involved as it's all simulated.

Scenario Poker is a customizable widget allowing you to change the style and color of the cards to your taste. You can't, however, choose who you want to complete against and you have to play a minimum of nine players at a time which can be quite overwhelming, especially for beginners. All of the players are given human faces and names, although all are actually simulated by the computer. Dealing is simply a case of clicking 'Deal' then you click the respective buttons whether you want to call or raise.

There are no sound effects with the game, which could have added a little more atmosphere and both the cards and funds each player has remaining are a little small to see properly. However, the game is very slick with dealing and raising happening very quickly. In fact, unless you know the rules of Texas Hold 'Em well, you may find yourself floundering very quickly.

Scenario Poker is an excellent poker widget that's high on poker action and realism but won't have you crying all the way to the bank if you lose.

Download Scenario Poker 3.0 in Softonic

Poker may not be a difficult game to learn, but what really distinguishes the pros from the amateurs is knowing all the tricks and ropes to win hands.

Poker Academy is aimed at improving your level at poker.

The game can really be tweaked according to your level of play, and you can set the level of opponents and host your own tournaments.

You can also create filters to analyze your game even more closely. One feature we quite liked was the Hand Evaluator, which can tell you your chances according to your flop (first three face up cards).

If you decide to purchase the game you can then get into more serious games with other real Poker Academy players.