Steam version not working(Error occurred during initialization of VM)

Are you running updated 64bit java?

what about video card drivers are they all upto date also is your OS 64bit or 32bit

It does not matter which java version is installed on your machine, since the Steam version of the game uses an own JVM
Please have a look if the file "rt.jar" is in your folder \steamapps\common\RisingWorld\java\lib\, if not, please reinstall the game.
Alternatively you can try to Verify Integrity of Game Cache

Thanks for the detailed information, also in your initial post!
However, it's a strange issue. Maybe it helps to replace the java in your Rising World directory with a recent download. Or eventually a wrong environment variable is set? Please add @lucien.schuenke to your Steam contacts, he can most certainly help you with this problem https://steamcommunity.com/id/lucienn3

Quote from red51

It does not matter which java version is installed on your machine, since the Steam version of the game uses an own JVM
Please have a look if the file "rt.jar" is in your folder \steamapps\common\RisingWorld\java\lib\, if not, please reinstall the game.
Alternatively you can try to Verify Integrity of Game Cache

? thats strange because my steam version when i very first played this game would also not load, i then updated my java and after that it worked.
also people are having better luck getting the game working with 64bit

Quote from yahgiggle

? thats strange because my steam version when i very first played this game would also not load, i then updated my java and after that it worked.
also people are having better luck getting the game working with 64bit

When did you purchase the game? Only prior to 1st of January 2015 it was required to have Java installed, after this date, the game was delivered with an own JVM (only global vm options still have influence on that)
Only exception is the standalone version, which still requires you to have Java installed.

Quote from red51

When did you purchase the game? Only prior to 1st of January 2015 it was required to have Java installed, after this date, the game was delivered with an own JVM (only global vm options still have influence on that)
Only exception is the standalone version, which still requires you to have Java installed.

yeah maybe before that date but i have re installed window's and steam after that date went to play the game and the cmd pop up then went away i was like o crap i forgot to re install java so installed java and then it worked this was only 3 weeks ago