Can play game, but can't see any icons.

Can you post the contents of your "debug.err" file.  It can be opened with notepad and is located here: "documents/my games/polMachine2008/debug.err".  The file will have general system information as well as game messages that might helps us track down your issue.

Debug Message:  Version 1.04 last updated on: Mon Jul 21 17:51:24 2008
Debug Message:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 9/8/2008, 19:40:43
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: ALADDYNSANE
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Business (6.0, Build 6001) Service Pack 1 (6001.vistasp1_gdr.080425-1930)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: P5E
BIOS: BIOS Date: 12/13/07 15:38:29 Ver: 08.00.12
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU    Q6600  @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Physical Memory: 3070MB RAM
Page File: 1936MB used, 4444MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows

Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x950F)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_950F&SUBSYS_25421002&REV_00
Display Memory: 1787 MB
Current Display Mode: 1360 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: ACER AL2216W
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: atidxx32.dll,atidxx64,atiumdag.dll,atiumdva.cap,atiumd64,atiumd6a,atitmm64
Driver Version: 7.15.0010.0134
Driver Date: 7/31/2008 23:37:41
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
 

Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (2- High Definition Audio Device)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_11D4&DEV_198B&SUBSYS_1043829C&REV_1004
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 6.00.5840.16387
Driver Date: 11/2/2006 02:36:49
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 
Sound device 1:
Description: Digital Output Device (SPDIF) (2- High Definition Audio Device)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_11D4&DEV_198B&SUBSYS_1043829C&REV_1004
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 6.00.5840.16387
Driver Date: 11/2/2006 02:36:49
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 
Sound device 1:
Description: Digital Output Device (HDMI) (High Definition Audio Device)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_1002&DEV_AA01&SUBSYS_00AA0100&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
Provider: Microsoft
Driver Version: 6.00.5840.16387
Driver Date: 11/2/2006 02:36:49
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 

Debug Message:  *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message:  Entering WinMain
Debug Message:  ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message:  Candidate Outlines: ON
Debug Message:  Map Glow: ON
Debug Message:  Candidate Animated Bobbling: ON
Debug Message:  Error. String Not Found. Table: Common String Name: CrashReport
Debug Message:  Using 0 samples for multisampling.
Debug Message:  Game Resolution: 1680 x 1050 (full screen mode)
Debug Message:  HAL (hardware vertex processing)ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2
Debug Message:  Presentation Interval: Immediate.
Debug Message:  Refresh Rate: 0hz.
Debug Message:  Back Buffer Bit Depth: X8R8G8B8.
Debug Message:  32-bit z-buffer using 24-bits for the depth channel and 8-bits for the stencil channel.
Debug Message:  ** Checking Direct3D 9 Device Capabilities ************************************
Debug Message:  A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message:  Bump mapping is supported.
Debug Message:  RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message:  Shell initialization complete
Debug Message:  The Political Machine 2008 is activated.
Debug Message:  ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask fonts\*.otf
Debug Message:  Timer Frequency is 0 da7a64
Debug Message:  Initializing sound card.
Debug Message:  initailizing bink
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\The Political Machine 2008\Data\*xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008/Campaign\*xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008/Candidates\*xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008/Gfx\*xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008/Maps\*xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008/ScreenShots\*xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008/Snapshots\*xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008/Candidates/Configs\*xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008/Gfx/Candidates\*xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008/Gfx/Icons\*xml
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008/Maps\*.PM2MapListXML
Debug Message:  Map list file loaded successfully!
Debug Message:  Create setup screens.
Debug Message:  Create setup screens.
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008\Candidates\Configs\*.candidatecfgxml
Debug Message:  Set mouse.
Debug Message:  Set update timer.
Debug Message:  Popup Manager Update: Unhiding FullScreenBink
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008\Campaign\.PM2Save
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008\Candidates\.PM2Save
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008\Gfx\.PM2Save
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008\Maps\.PM2Save
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008\ScreenShots\.PM2Save
Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Users\GoldenBoya\Documents\My Games\PolMachine2008\Snapshots\.PM2Save
Debug Message:  Posting WM_CLOSE message.
Debug Message:  WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message:  GameUninitialize start
Debug Message:  Killing World
Debug Message:  Killing World: Completed
Debug Message:  GameUninitialize end
Debug Message:  Shutting down sound system.
Debug Message:  Clearing sound and music handles.
Debug Message:  GameUninitialize end
Debug Message:  ResourceManager::Invalidate
Debug Message:  effect: C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\The Political Machine 2008\Gfx\fx\Candidate.fx has 43 refs
Debug Message:  effect: C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\The Political Machine 2008\Gfx\fx\CandidateOutline.fx has 16 refs
Debug Message:  effect: C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\The Political Machine 2008\Gfx\fx\ScreenSpace.fx has 9 refs
Debug Message:  effect: C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\The Political Machine 2008\Gfx\fx\basic.fx has 29 refs
Debug Message:  effect: C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\The Political Machine 2008\Gfx\fx\scene.fx has 22 refs
Debug Message:  IDirect3D9 object not cleared; 47 ref counts still remaining.
Debug Message:  Main Shell terminating normally

+ Are you able to see your candidates on the title screen and when you choose your candidate?  Are they not working throughout the game or just when you are on the map?

Please try updating your game via Impulse.  The new version 1.50 is available now and may fix your problem.

If it doesn't, please try the following:

+ Your debug.err file indicates that candidate outlines are on, please try disabling them in the new version of the game to see if that helps

+ You could try the "Icons Only" mode to see if the candidates show up in that mode.   There is an option  for this in the Options screen.

+ Usually, graphical glitches of this nature are a result of a driver.  Please check with ATI to see if any new drivers have been released.  Your drivers are very recent, but if there were any problems with that driver, a new version may be available. 

If none of this helps, please let us know.

Thank you.