The crazy thing was that these programs, games, encyclopedia type things worked on XP until Service Pack 2. The only things needed were installing the latest Shockwave Full and Flash, QuickTime 2.1.2.59, the latest QuickTime (yes, both), and at least the programs I still have would work fine.
Since XP SP2, these types of programs (although some do still work) usually offer an error in Shockwave Director message when trying to do their QuickTime/Shockwave thing. Install the same as I listed above, and 98SE or XP until SP2 play these things fine.
If someone could figure out an adjustment to make in that Application Compatibility Toolkit that would fix the problem it would be nice. I tried all the normal Compatibility Mode options and system video settings and nothing worked. But that App Compat Toolkit has many more specific options to try. I'd have no idea where to begin.
Right now I have a 98SE/Linux dual boot after getting rid of Vista and replacing it with 98SE last week. I have old enough hardware to get nice performance from 98SE and use the available tools like the Auto-Patcher over at msfn.org and find it's serving most of my needs, especially with Linux available too. Runs better than XP or Vista, but of course newer software for XP/Vista that will not run on 9x is beyond reach this way.
Anyway, if there's anyone versed in using that Application Compatibility Toolkit, which always mostly confused me and only used it myself during the period when it was necessary to use it to get Shockwave to work on Firefox (a long time ago), and has some of these Shockwave/QuickTime 2.1.2.59 type hybrid programs, it would be nice if a solution could be found.
Likely the same sort of settings that would work on XP SP2 could also be applied on Vista using the latest Application Compatibility Toolkit.
I mean, the old programs aren't a necessity of course, but some of them are fun to use. I particularly like Star Trek Captain's Chair. That's a no go on XP/Vista since XP SP2 (worked before that).