Does anybody know why the game crashes if I launch it with the -windowed argument?
It works beautifully in full-screen (minus the occasional colour smear, but that's just the game), but every time I try to run it windowed it goes kaput.

I have the Hi-Res patch, UAP, and another tiny hex hack that makes it so that NPCs always show their portrait instead of a race icon.
Also, Windows 7 32bit for OS.

I'm also having this problem. I got the unofficial patch and installed it. None of the compatibility settings work. I'm also on Windows 7. I'm running out of things to try.

:(

I have the same issue.

I do a livestream every day and this is the #1 game on my to-do list. Someone figures this out, you're my hero.