Troubleshooting

Frequent problems with games in Empo, what causes them, and how to collect logs for a bug report.

Empo cannot start a different game

This is a known limitation, and not a defect in the game. Force-close Empo from the app switcher, and open it again. multi-session.md explains why.

The game does not start

Try these steps in order:

Check the engine

Empo runs RPG Maker XP, VX, and VX Ace games, modern mkxp-z forks, and PSDK games. Other engines, such as RPG Maker MV and MZ, do not run.

Check for an RTP warning

If the game asks for a Run-Time Package, Empo warns you before it starts. Empo cannot install an RTP yet. Import a version of the game that ships its own assets.

Turn off the postload scripts

Open the settings for the game, and turn off Postload scripts under Engine. Some games conflict with the compatibility scripts that Empo adds.

Turn on JoiPlay compatibility

Games that were packaged for JoiPlay sometimes expect its behavior. The option is under Engine.

Collect the logs

Turn on Debug logs, start the game again, and attach the log to an issue.

The game starts, but assets are missing

The game probably calls a Windows DLL. Empo emulates the frequent Win32 APIs with win32_wrap.rb, but a game that goes past that set can fail to load some files. Encrypted archives from third-party tools have the same effect.

Report the game. A compatibility report with the title and the version helps.

No music, or no sound

Check the volume of the device and the silent switch first. If the game is still silent, turn on Debug logs, play until the music should start, and attach the log to an issue. The log names each audio file that the engine opens.

A movie does not play

Empo plays Ogg/Theora movies only. The engine skips MP4 and other formats without a message. A game with an MP4 opening runs, but the opening stays blank.

The text is too small to read

Open the settings for the game. Under Display, raise Font scale. Solid fonts helps when the text renders faint over a bright background.

The game runs slowly

Turn on Frame skip under Performance.
Turn off Smooth scaling under Display.
Close the other apps.

Battle scenes and large maps cost the most. Older devices show it first.

My saves are gone

Empo keeps saves inside the folder of the game, so an app update never removes them.

A defect in versions before v0.6.1 renamed the save files of some games. Empo v0.6.1 and newer restore the newest save for each affected game at launch, and show a Saves recovered sheet. The renamed copies stay in the folder of the game as backups. You can reach them in the Files app, under On My iPhone → Empo.

A card in the library looks broken

Go to Settings → Advanced, and turn on Delete broken imports. Empo deletes the folders that a failed import left behind.

Report a problem

If none of the steps above helps, collect the logs and report the game. Community and support lists what a report needs and where to send it.