Skip to main content

Indie game storeFree gamesFun gamesHorror games
Game developmentAssetsComics
SalesBundles
Jobs
TagsGame Engines

"Cannot read property build of undefined" error when trying to install games

A topic by heckos created Dec 14, 2020 Views: 11,529 Replies: 11
Viewing posts 1 to 4
(+3)

Several people have made posts on this subject in the last couple of months but none of them got resolved so I'm still at a loss for what to do. :(

This issue just started last night as far as I know, and happens when I try to download most games. I've had one or two work, but others including this one give this error message and I can't figure out why. I know other people have successfully downloaded this game and the others I'm having trouble with, so I feel like the issue has to be on my end.

Also of note is the "Install" dropdown has no options and is blank for the games that don't download, which.. makes sense lol. Somehow it doesn't know where to get the files?


(+2)

I am having this issue as well with one particular game I've been meaning to download through the launcher for nearly a month now. It is unfortunate that a solution hasn't been found yet.

(+2)

I have the same problem. Very unfortunate since I've paid for the game already.

(2 edits) (+5)

This problem is very common when the app developer didn’t have the itch client in mind. You can still download it via the ITCH website. (Take the url from the bar in the itch client and access the itch page of this game in your browser. You might need to log in to download a paid game.)

If any developer has complaints about this issue here is some context, (please let me know whether it works for you).

The itch client is a standalone app that provides a lot of convinience for the user.

  • It provides (the possibility of) sandboxing apps, so they can’t steal passwords from my browser (currently opt in for the developer but that will change in the future).
  • It automatically makes installable windows apps available under Linux (and maybe mac?) via wine without extra effort for the user or developer
  • It provides a central place remove all the programms downloaded (you never forget some gigabyte big game in your download folder)
  • It provides a way for users to kill badly behaving programms without opening a task manager
  • Itch can collect crash logs that can help user and developer identify problems such as missing libraries (called *.dll on windows) which either a technically minded user can fix on their own or give detailed technical feedback to the developer
  • Itch can also automatically install dependencies (such as programming language run-times) for the user when they are needed
  • It does automatic updates of applications to the latest version in the background without user intervention
  • Only updates the changes of apps when the developer pushed it using butler tool

To do this the itch client needs some information. I never published on Itch but i suspect those two articles have the information you need. You are probably just missing an App manifests if that doesn’t cut it look into the Game developer quick start and profit from the benefits of using butler: Compatibility policy#Platinum tier

(+1)

if I understand correctly, this will remain an issue for people unless the game developer fixes it on their end?

(+2)

Yes, user are unable to install it through the itch client (but they can use the website to download it) until developers fix it on their end.

Hey so one issue if thats supposed to fix it on their end, and ive tried 100+ games and others ive seen other people play, it doesnt work I still get the error, so unless all of itch is broken that cant be right.

Does this game work?

https://arekku.itch.io/foxes-and-cows

Yes, it works. You are presented with an option to download a windows version.

(+1)

One might from this infer that this project is set up correctly, but the other projects that does not work are not set up properly.

Thanks for caring.

(+1)

didn't work for me. just removes the zip when i try to open it and if i try downloading it again it says download error. could it be because im on windows 10? also the install section is in blank for some reason.

This topic has been auto-archived and can no longer be posted in because there haven't been any posts in a while.