Can't start playing

[mapleleaf50]

I recently bought a game and when I try to start it there is nothing but a black screen. The same thing happens on my another device. What can I do besides a refund?

[Max Mraz]

That's wild, I haven't heard of that happening with other folks or across devices. What kind of devices?

There should be a file called error.txt here or somewhere like this:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Ocean's Heart
(I think you can find this location from Steam by clicking "view local files" or something like that)
Does this error file say anything? If it doesn't, then I don't think the problem is with the game and I'm not sure if I'll be able to do much : /

[Kokoomusnuori]

I have the same problem with the black screen and my error file says:
[Solarus] [9890] Error: In on_started: maps/respawn_map.lua:6: Cannot start an already started menu
stack traceback:
[C]: at 0x00e1bdd0
[C]: in function 'start'
maps/respawn_map.lua:6: in function <maps/respawn_map.lua:5>
[Solarus] [184490] Error: In on_started: maps/respawn_map.lua:6: Cannot start an already started menu
stack traceback:
[C]: at 0x00e1bdd0
[C]: in function 'start'
maps/respawn_map.lua:6: in function <maps/respawn_map.lua:5>

[Max Mraz]

Oh well that's very unexpected. Have you already been playing the game and this error started happening, or is this when starting a brand new game?

[mapleleaf50]

This is the text of my error.txt:
[Solarus] [0] Error: In on_started: scripts/settings.lua:120: attempt to index local 'file' (a nil value)
stack traceback:
[C]: in function '__index'
scripts/settings.lua:120: in function 'save'
scripts/settings.lua:96: in function 'load'
main.lua:25: in function <main.lua:23>
[Solarus] [51380] Error: In on_finished: scripts/settings.lua:120: attempt to index local 'file' (a nil value)
stack traceback:
[C]: in function '__index'
scripts/settings.lua:120: in function 'save'
main.lua:79: in function <main.lua:78>

[Sclintash]

The same problem here. Won't run on both of my devices.
The error.txt says:
[Solarus] [0] Error: In on_started: scripts/settings.lua:120: attempt to index local 'file' (a nil value)
stack traceback:
[C]: in function '__index'
scripts/settings.lua:120: in function 'save'
scripts/settings.lua:96: in function 'load'
main.lua:25: in function <main.lua:23>
[Solarus] [54230] Error: In on_finished: scripts/settings.lua:120: attempt to index local 'file' (a nil value)
stack traceback:
[C]: in function '__index'
scripts/settings.lua:120: in function 'save'
main.lua:79: in function <main.lua:78>

[Max Mraz]

Okay, I'll look into this, it looks like the game is failing to find the file "settings.dat", which should be at {user}\AppData\Roaming\OceansHeart\oceans_heart_saves
If the file doesn't exist, the game _should_ create it, which is weird.

Is this problem happening the first time you try to play the game, or did you play one or more times, then when you open the game again it's just a black screen?

Is there a file called settings.dat at this location on you computer? If so, what is in it? (you can open .dat files with notepad or something like that)

I'll see if I can figure out anything on my end too!

[mapleleaf50]

Yes, the problem happens all the time. I have not been able to enter the game even once. There is no "settings.dat" at this location, just - steam_autocloud.vdf

[Max Mraz]

Thanks for clarifying! It appears that the game can't create the setting.dat file on your system for some reason. What kind of operating system are you using? Do you know if you have any permissions preventing the game from writing files?

Ocean's Heart uses the Lua language, and this file is created with Lua's io.write() function. It appears this is failing to return a file like it should, which is causing this problem.

[Sclintash]

Is it possible that the game can't create this file because the name of the user's folder is in Russian?

[Sclintash]

Yeah,it's just worked. I created a new microsoft account and gave it the name in English therefore my user's folder is in English. Now i can start the game without any problems.

[Max Mraz]

Woah! Nice job guessing the problem and figuring that out!
I'll check into the game engine and Lua and try to see if this is a limitation I can overcome to allow people to properly use their names in their filepath : )

[mapleleaf50]

Yeah, it's true. I tried on my second account without russian symbols in user's folder and it works now.

[Robert Linck]

It's already 2025 and we still have the same problem. My wife is trying to play and she can't either. From what I've seen, it's the same as everyone else. The settings.dat file won't be created.

I'm not going to change the Microsoft user. The developer should have already solved this. Several people here on the forum had the same problem. I'm just going to uninstall it.