I'm getting crashes too, and after trying everything CariElf suggested, there has been no improvement.

I'm seeing the same problems. It crashes freezes wth 100% CPU usage when I click "New Company". Compatibility mode let me get to the company creation screen, but that screen would freeze when I tried to start the game. I am running XP 64, maybe that is the problem?

Yeah, I'd much rather have a patch ....

Awesome. It's been over a month since the last post from Stardock. They won't even give us hope by saying they might release a patch if they have some spare time. I'd really like to see Impulse become a viable alternative to Steam, but given our experiences here, I can't say I'm feeling very inspired to buy a second Impulse game. Back to Bioshock for me ($15 last weekend w00t!)

What a waste of time. Is stardock actually looking into this problem? Any option i choose ingame takes me to a screen with just a picture and the version number at the bottom. Nothing happens! Patch please or atleast a refund!

You spent $4.95 on a game that's ancient (2001) by modern standards an want a refund.

The system requirements clearly state what is supported.  Why would you expect it to run on unsupported systems at all?  Crazy. 

If you really want official support you can try emailing support@stardock.com.  Refunds are at sales@stardock.com.

Zubaz, note that the only requirements listed are the MINIMUM requirements. Allow me to define the word MINIMUM:

min·i·mum Audio Help [min-uh-muhm] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation noun, plural -mums, -ma Audio Help [-muh] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation, adjective
–noun 1. the least quantity or amount possible, assignable, allowable, or the like.
2. the lowest speed permitted on a highway.
3. the lowest amount, value, or degree attained or recorded.
4. an arbitrary amount set by a restaurant, nightclub, etc., as the least amount to be charged each person for food and drink. Compare cover charge.
5. Mathematics. a. Also called relative minimum, local minimum. the value of a function at a certain point in its domain, which is less than or equal to the values at all other points in the immediate vicinity of the point. Compare absolute minimum.
b. the point in the domain at which a minimum occurs.
–adjective 6. noting or indicating a minimum.
7. least possible: minimum risk.
8. lowest: a minimum rate.
9. pertaining to a minimum or minimums.
(thanks to dictionary.com)

What that means is that the game show be expected to run on a machine with the given specs OR BETTER. My machine exceeds all of the listed specifications, therefore I have Stardock's assurance that the game will work. Furthermore, the game may have originally released in mid 2001 (several months before Windows XP), but the version I bought was RE-released in 2008. Just as I would expect the original game to run on most systems available when it was released, I would expect the game to also run on most systems available at the time when it is RE-released. That means dual-core CPUs running Windows XP (or Vista). I would be more understanding if they said "this game doesn't work on most systems" BEFORE they took my money. I would ALSO be more understanding if they said "sorry, we didn't actually test the game before we sold it, maybe we'll patch it". Instead my understanding is that their attitude is more like "we've got your money, f*** off lol". I don't care if I'm being robbed of 5 dollars or 5 cents, I'm still being robbed. I'm just glad that there are more honest services out there

I'm using on a single core AMD 3000 with XP... and its crashing for me too. What the fuck...

I checked Impulse. 'The Corporate Machine' is on the 23rd and last page of Games....it's a 2001 release game and thus pre-dates. XP, hence comment #1 refering to Win98 Compatibility mode.

Minimum specs patently can ONLY be relevant to the date of release...so the expectation of 'or better' is also limited thus.  There really IS no need to quote Dictionary definitions....

Mine crashes too, unless I set compatibility mode to run in 256 colors, and even then almost nothing works - i get just the background image (Screen shot attached). I have to exit using alt-f4, and that results in a crash.
Setting win98 compatibility mode results in crash.

Setting affinity to 1 core only has no effect.
Using winXP SP2, and an NVIDIA 8800gt, forceware version 175.16.
Intel core2duo E8400

Sure, it's an old game, but so is Starcraft, and I still enjoy playing it once in a while.
I was really looking forward to checking it out.

 

Heft: Any chance that you have an NVIDIA card too?

My hunch tells me it is something to do with the display drivers.
I've tried running it in another computer, which uses an ATI card (x1600 pro), and it worded fine - without the need to use compatibility mode.

Since I only changed a display option (256 colors) on my machine, I think it has something to do with it.

That other CPU has just a single core, but CariElf said they managed to run the game on a quad-core, so... Hopefully the problem is the graphics drivers / cards.

The demo thing is odd. I hope it will give point someone in the right direction though.

I also tried installing the game on a core2duo at work, with an integrated intel graphics driver, and there was no problem.
So, almost certainly something with the NVidia drivers... I guess they don't care much for old fashion 2D drawing