1) Standalone Video Codecs:

DivX: Website - Windows Codec - Mac OSX Codec
- for videos encoded using the DivX video codec

Xvid: Website - Windows Codec - Mac OSX Codec
- for videos encoded using the XivD video codec

X264: Website - Windows Codec
- for videos encoded using the x264 video codec

2) Standalone Audio Codecs:

AC3 Filter: Website - Windows Codec
- for videos encoded using the ac3 audio codec

Ogg Direct Show Filter: Website - Windows Codec
- for videos encoded using the ogg vorbis audio codec (.ogg, .ogm)

3) Standalone Media Players For Direct Download Videos:

Media Player Classic: Website - Windows Software
- best video player for any internet distributed video / dvd rips

4) Standalone Media Players For Streaming Videos:

QuickTime Player: Website - Windows Software - Mac OSX Software
- for streaming video / audio encoded in QuickTime format

RealPlayer: Website - Windows Software
- for streaming video / audio encoded in Real Video / Audio format

Windows Media Player: Website - Windows Software - Mac OSX Software
- for streaming video / audio encoded Windows Media format

5) Other Recommended Software For Video Playback:

Direct Vob Sub: Website - Windows Software
- for video / DVD rips using embedded subtitles

FFDShow Alpha: Website - Windows Software
- required for all video files using directshow filters
(please note: this is an alternative to the FFDShow MPEG4, please do not install this in addition to FFDShow MPEG4)

FFDShow MPEG4: Website - Windows Software
- required for all video files using directshow filters
(please note: this is an alternative to the FFDShow Alpha, please do not install this in addition to FFDShow Alpha)

6) Video / Audio Codec Packs (With Media Players):

K-Lite Full Codec Pack: Website - Windows Software
- for extreme support of all the major video / audio encoded files on the web, with Media Player Classic included
(please note: this is an alternative to the Storm codec pack, please do not install this in addition to the Storm pack)

K-Lite Mega Codec Pack: Website - Windows Software
- for major support of all the major video / audio encoded files on the web, with Media Player Classic included
(please note: this is an alternative to the Storm codec pack, please do not install this in addition to the Storm pack)

Matroska Pack: Website - Windows Software
- for videos encoded using dual audio / language containers (.mkv)

Storm Codec Pack: Website - Windows Software
- for extreme support of all the major video / audio encoded files on the web, with Media Player Classic included
(please note: this is an alternative to the K-Lite codec pack, please do not install this in addition to the K-Lite pack)