If you have these programs, you are a gamer

Seriously.

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Sometimes, my non-gaming friends come over and hang out, browse through my computer etc. They see a number of programs on my desktop and ask: “What are those for?”

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Most of the time the programs serve the purpose of enhancing my game-related experiences. I realised that a number of gamers use these programs too but to the untrained eye it may seem quite random.

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So here’s the checklist. If you have these, you know what kind of person you are.

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FRAPS

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Seeking high quality screenshots? Want to record a video match showing off your leetness? FRAPS is your answer! Like most people I possess the free version which is a bit more limited but provides everything I need, nothing more.

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VENTRILO

A sight that warms my desensitised heart.

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Typing? That is so last decade. Nowadays everybody uses their microphones to chat, and ventrilo (colloquially known as “vent”) provides the best servers for clear communication when you want to shout at your teammates.

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TEAM SPEAK

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Admittedly I am yet to experience teamspeak for myself but I heard this was the “in” thing before its hotter cousin ventrilo came along and stole the spotlight.

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STEAM

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Not to be confused with the gas state of water, when steam was first launched there was no accompanying hype. Nope. Very few had heard of it, and even less utilised it. Now steam is one of the leading platforms for the digital distribution of games (Source). I regularly use this program for chatting as well as gaming purposes.

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W3DR

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More a game specific program, W3DR is used to minimise lag in Warcraft 3 matches. I mainly use it for DOTA purposes.

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DAEMON TOOLS

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If you don’t know what this does, look it up. It would take up too much page space to explain. If you know what this is used for you are just as guilty as me.

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Well there you have it. If you are a non-gamer and reading this, now you know what those strangely named programs (“DAEMON Tools? That sounds so evil”) are used for.

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