Unable to start this game? Check your DPI settings.

[kostasvl]

If you are unable to see the intro and the Bit Blot logo, it could be because you've set your DPI setting in Windows to something other than the default (100%). That was my problem that was preventing me from playing I use Windows 8 64-bit, in case it matters. I also use False Genesis's unofficial update (thanks BTW!), but this is probably irrelevant.

I hope this helps someone! I'm having a lot of fun so far with this game. I just got the first pet

[False.Genesis]

DPI? What exactly are you referring to? To make your advice reproducible, could you post a screenshot or something that explains where this setting can be found?
To be honest, i have no idea right now what you mean, sorry.

[kostasvl]

Thanks for taking an interest!

I found this page that explains how to change the default DPI in Windows 7: https://pattersonsupport.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/13103/~/how-to-change-dpi-settings-in-windows-7

It will give you an idea of what it does, but it's quicker to try it Basically, without lowering your monitor's resolution, you can make various windows elements (text, icons, etc) much larger. It's great if you are sat more than a meter from you computer.

Aquaria seems to hate a DPI other than the default 100%. Basically, nothing renders (black window). Sometimes I can hear the sounds, but I haven't worked out a pattern.

[False.Genesis]

Oh wow. I'm still on XP and there no such setting exists (still happy with the old, crusty, but incredibly sharp winXP bitmap fonts <3 )
If this really fixes problems then this might be some weird ass bug in win7? The game doesn't use any windows-internal font rendering to my knowledge. It uses FTGL for fonts which in turn uses FreeType2, this is the only thing that could be affected by the DPI setting. Haven't ever looked at the FreeType code, no idea to which extent it uses the windows API. Really puzzled now...

But thanks for digging out a possible solution for rendering failures, things like this are impossible to track down...

EDIT: Thinking about it, afaik the included freetype was never updated (since ~2008). I'll update this and FTGL before releasing the next updatepack. Hope that'll help.

[kostasvl]

It seems it's available on XP as well: http://helpdeskgeek.com/windows-xp-tips/dpi-settings-on-windows-xp/