Black Screen on Startup.

Skawt · June 16, 2015

I just purchased this game, and have already uninstalled and re-installed it. Some computer specs:

Windows 7 (64 bit)

Intel i5-3210M CPU @ 2.5GHz

GeForce GT 630M

8 gb RAM

When start, only a completely black screen pops up, which says it's the long dark when I hover over it on the desktop. Nothing else happens though, and I do have access to the pointer as well as the Steam overlay (which turning off doesn't help).

I have tried every possible way to boot it, including the forced d9 and d11 options. Still, the same nothingness.

I have also checked the output_log, which is extremely lengthy. What seems to out of the ordinary is that each package in the .../tld_data/plugins/ folder loads except AkSoundEngine.d11. Here are some excerpts from the output_log:

Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Mono/.\C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Plugins/AkSoundEngine.dll
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Mono/.\C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Plugins/AkSoundEngine
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Mono/libC:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Plugins/AkSoundEngine.dll
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Mono/.\libC:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Plugins/AkSoundEngine.dll
Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Mono/libC:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Plugins/AkSoundEngine.dll
DllNotFoundException: C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Plugins/AkSoundEngine.dll
at (wrapper managed-to-native) AkSoundEnginePINVOKE:CSharp_new_AkMemSettings ()
at AkMemSettings..ctor () [0x00000] in :0
at AkInitializer.Awake () [0x00000] in :0
UnityEngine.Object:Internal_CloneSingle(Object)
UnityEngine.Object:Instantiate(GameObject)
BootUpdate:Start() -- This is just one repetition of the message, plus the "D11 not found execption" message.

and

NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object
at BootUpdate.Update () [0x00000] in :0
(Filename: Line: -1) -- which repeats probably hundreds of times.

I would really appreciate some help here!

June 16, 2015

Its possible that your computer isn't set up for DirectX 11. You can try booting the game in DirectX 9 mode to see if that corrects the issue for you.

In Steam interface, click on "LIBRARY".

In games list, right click on "The Long Dark".

Choose "Properties"

Click "SET LAUNCH OPTIONS..."

Paste into text box "-force-d3d9" without the quotes

Click "OK".

Click "CLOSE".

Skawt · June 16, 2015

I've attempted to do that but with no success so far. I'll try again in a few minutes, and post an update.

June 16, 2015

Hmm... try this: Left click on the Long Dark, select Properties, click the tab "Local Files" and press "verify integrity of game Cache". After its done loading, try playing the game. If that still doesn't work post your new debug log and I'll pass it on to the team.

Melody~

Skawt · June 16, 2015

No such luck yet. The main body of text I get in the output log is the exact same, but here is the text at the top of the log:

Initialize engine version: 5.0.2f1 (0b02744d4013)
Forcing GfxDevice: 1
GfxDevice: creating device client; threaded=1
Direct3D:
Version: Direct3D 9.0c [nvumdshim.dll 9.18.13.5306]
Renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M
Vendor: NVIDIA
VRAM: 979 MB (via DXGI)
Caps: Shader=30 DepthRT=1 NativeDepth=1 NativeShadow=1 DF16=0 INTZ=1 NULL=1 RESZ=0 SlowINTZ=0
Begin MonoManager ReloadAssembly

Skawt · June 16, 2015

Okay, I condensed the Output log, but prepare for a wall of text.

Initialize engine version: 5.0.2f1 (0b02744d4013)

Forcing GfxDevice: 1

GfxDevice: creating device client; threaded=1

Direct3D:

Version: Direct3D 9.0c [nvumdshim.dll 9.18.13.5306]

Renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GT 630M

Vendor: NVIDIA

VRAM: 979 MB (via DXGI)

Caps: Shader=30 DepthRT=1 NativeDepth=1 NativeShadow=1 DF16=0 INTZ=1 NULL=1 RESZ=0 SlowINTZ=0

Begin MonoManager ReloadAssembly

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp-firstpass.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp-firstpass.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Assembly-CSharp.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Assembly-UnityScript-firstpass.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Assembly-UnityScript-firstpass.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Assembly-UnityScript.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Assembly-UnityScript.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.UI.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\UnityEngine.UI.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\ConsoleUtilsImport.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\ConsoleUtilsImport.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\HardwareVideoImport.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\HardwareVideoImport.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\MarketplaceImport.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\MarketplaceImport.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\StorageImport.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\StorageImport.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\UnityPluginLogImport.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\UnityPluginLogImport.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\UsersImport.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\UsersImport.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\XboxOneCommonImport.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\XboxOneCommonImport.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\EasyRoads3D.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\EasyRoads3D.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\SuperSplines.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\SuperSplines.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\HOTween.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\HOTween.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Pathfinding.ClipperLib.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Pathfinding.ClipperLib.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Ionic.Zip.Reduced.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Ionic.Zip.Reduced.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Pathfinding.Ionic.Zip.Reduced.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Pathfinding.Ionic.Zip.Reduced.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Pathfinding.JsonFx.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Pathfinding.JsonFx.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Pathfinding.Poly2Tri.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Pathfinding.Poly2Tri.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\SampleClassLibrary.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\SampleClassLibrary.dll into Unity Child Domain

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\DecalSystem.Runtime.dll (this message is harmless)

Loading C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\DecalSystem.Runtime.dll into Unity Child Domain

- Completed reload, in 0.169 seconds

Initializing input.

Input initialized.

desktop: 1366x768 60Hz; virtual: 1366x768 at 0,0

Initialized touch support.

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\System.Core.dll (this message is harmless)

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\System.dll (this message is harmless)

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\UnityScript.Lang.dll (this message is harmless)

Platform assembly: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\TheLongDark\tld_Data\Managed\Boo.Lang.dll (this message is harmless)

Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Mono/.\C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Plugins/AkSoundEngine.dll

Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Mono/.\C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Plugins/AkSoundEngine

Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Mono/libC:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Plugins/AkSoundEngine.dll

Fallback handler could not load library C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Mono/.\libC:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common/TheLongDark/tld_Data/Plugins/AkSoundEngine.dll