NAOH  I am also quite mystified at what exactly has been updated in order to warrant a new release.

The only thing that might make sense is that it is a security fix.

But if so, why not just say that?  
(Version 11.5.0.600)

MIKE SILVA  I really wish Adobe would quite releasing these minimalist updates that supposedly don't do anything, and release a friggin' update that actually made Flash less of a resource hogging whore.

It will be a bright sunny day when even the smallest flash content on a web site doesn't ramp my multicore cpu utilization up to 100%, or crash my browser. How about working on an update that addresses those bits of "functionality" mmkay?  
(Version 11.5.0.600)

JCRAIG  I'm kind of blown away that a browser plugin is over 15 MB in size.   
(Version 11.0.3.470)

FELIX01  Whoa, MooseBreath, it works with Snow Leopard but you DO have to run Safari in 32-bit mode.

http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/512/cpsid_51273.html  
(Version 11.5.2.602)

DOC.  Oh Great just what I want to do, launch Safari in 32 bit mode to use shockwave. Ya thanks.  
(Version 11.5.2.602)

ORION MK. V  Truly lame thinking by Adobe, since 64-bit Safari is now the default installed in SL.  
(Version 11.5.2.602)

TIM.DEHRING  I'm not surprised. This is the same company that can't produce a useable version of Flash for the Mac OS, let alone any other program that doesn't kill resources.  
(Version 11.5.2.602)

PABLITO  I don't have it here, and do not intent to install. I do not see why I need it.

Anyway ...

Wiki: Adobe Shockwave (formerly Macromedia Shockwave) was Macromedia's first and most successful multimedia player prior to the introduction of Macromedia Flash (now Adobe Flash). It allows Adobe Director applications to be published on the Internet and viewed in a web browser by anyone who has the Shockwave plug-in installed.  
(Version 11.5.0.595)

LEPPE  Well, try Googling for Shockwave games.

There are many websites where you can play AAA-games (Quake1-3, Half Life, RtCW, Deus Ex, Doom, Warcraft, etc.), but you need Shockwave.

I remember the discussion when Apple switched to Intel. A year after the switch there was still no Shockwave player for Intel Macs. People needed to launch Safari in Rosetta mode if they wanted to play a shockwave game or for viewing a shockwave web site.

Here are a few links:

http://www.shockwave3d.com/

http://www.shockwave.com/home.jsp

http://necromanthus.com/Games/ShockWave/quake3.html

http://necromanthus.com/Games/ShockWave/quake.html

http://necromanthus.com/main.html

With regards.  
(Version 11.5.0.595)

LEPPE  Here is something you can read on the Adobe web site:

"Over 450 million Internet-enabled desktops have installed Adobe Shockwave Player. These people now have access to some of the best the Web has to offer - including dazzling 3D games and entertainment, interactive product demonstrations, and online learning applications. Shockwave Player displays Web content that has been created by Adobe Director."

More info:

http://www.adobe.com/products/shockwaveplayer/

With regards.  
(Version 11.5.0.595)

XENOPHILE  Right, and I tried searching Adobe's site to find the difference between the "slim" and "full" installers, only to give up after 20 minutes. WTF is the matter with these people?

And WTF doesn't Adobe offer a single download for both Flash and Shockwave? Instead I've got to click through extra pages at their bloated website for updates. Makes no sense.  
(Version 11.5.0.596)