Capturing what's on my computer.

[Kenspy2]

Is there a way using any sort of program that I can capture what is being run on my computer? I.e. if I am watching a live online game, can I run a program that is capturing what is being shown on my monitor? I am very experienced with computers, so feel free to explain it any way possible.

Or if there isn't...is there a way to capture whats on my computer using any sort of external device...?

Thanks in advance for any help, and sorry if this is a really stupid question

[Piccoro]

Im not exactly sure what you are asking.
Im focusing on your example.
Most games do allow you to record demos and there are commands that allow you to create BMPs from the frame rate you set within that command from a demo or gameplay in the game console (Hafe-Life and any of its mods would be an example).
From there you can import those BMPs in adobe premiere or something.
If you had a tvout and an extra pc you could do it the cheap way and just output video to the input on the capture device.
If at all possible, try to convert it digitally and internally.
If you are viewing a swf and you wish to have it in mpg format, rather than do the pc to pc hookup just get a program to convert swf to avi or mpg. In games, samething. My friend has a link to a website that tells you how to convert PCgame footage to different formats, forget what the link is.

Im sure there is a program (I do not know of any though) that can capture whats on your screen in sequential BMPs or a video format.

If you are talking about streaming media, just save the file. There are programs that can save the file if the main program doesnt let you.
(example:Winamp shoutcast streams)