[CRASH] An the "no fun" begins ...

As someone else said, check and see if the game has an error log under the applications folder.

I don't see one ... does anyone know where or what it would be called?

It's debug.err I think. Just open it in Notepad.

I have the same problem. There's no debug.err.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 9/17/2009, 18:09:37
       Machine name: EHONDA
   Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
       System Model: System Product Name
               BIOS: BIOS Date: 07/31/07 17:17:09 Ver: 08.00.10
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E4500  @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
             Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3200MB RAM
          Page File: 1477MB used, 4918MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 64bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 4: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: Radeon X1900 Series (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) 
       Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
          Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x7249)
           DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_7249&SUBSYS_0B121002&REV_00
     Display Memory: 1852 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 508 MB
      Shared Memory: 1343 MB
       Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: Sceptre 
         Monitor Id: SPT1999
        Native Mode: 1440 x 900(p) (59.887Hz)
        Output Type: DVI
        Driver Name: atiumdag,atiumdva,atiumd64.dll,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.14.0010.0630 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.56.1.15
        DDI Version: 9Ex
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.0
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 7/13/2009 21:40:03, 4030976 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: Yes
    WHQL Date Stamp:
  Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-3109-11CF-C471-182BA1C2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x1002
          Device ID: 0x7249
          SubSys ID: 0x0B121002
        Revision ID: 0x0000
 Driver Strong Name: atiilhag.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64...1:ati2mtag_R580:8.56.1.15:pci\ven_1002&dev_7249
     Rank Of Driver: 00F42001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C

[trimmed by moderator]

I concur - no error log

vista look in:

C:\Users\administrator\Documents\My Games\Elemental\debug.err

I'm getting the same behavior.  No error log and I when I run Sysinternals Process Monitor to watch what the Elemental process is doing I don't see any errors of note and the process exits after just under twelve seconds.

Here's the output from DX Diag.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 9/17/2009, 18:21:59
       Machine name: ARCHANGEL
   Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: LENOVO
       System Model: 87445BU
               BIOS: Phoenix FirstBIOS(tm) Notebook Pro Version 2.0 for ThinkPad
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU         T7200  @ 2.00GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.0GHz
             Memory: 2048MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 2046MB RAM
          Page File: 1292MB used, 2800MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
       Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
          Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x7145)
           DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_7145&SUBSYS_200617AA&REV_00
     Display Memory: 894 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 127 MB
      Shared Memory: 767 MB
       Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: ThinkPad Display 1680x1050
      Monitor Model: unknown
         Monitor Id: IBM2887
        Native Mode: 1680 x 1050(p) (60.108Hz)
        Output Type: Internal
        Driver Name: atiumdag.dll,atiumdva.cap,atitmmxx.dll
Driver File Version: 7.14.0010.0630 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.561.0.0
        DDI Version: 9Ex
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.0
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 12/1/2008 20:29:34, 4033536 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: Yes
    WHQL Date Stamp:
  Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-3205-11CF-6C76-0C00A1C2CA35}
          Vendor ID: 0x1002
          Device ID: 0x7145
          SubSys ID: 0x200617AA
        Revision ID: 0x0000
 Driver Strong Name: oem1.inf:ATI.Mfg:ati2mtag_M54:8.561.0.0:pci\ven_1002&dev_7145
     Rank Of Driver: 00F62001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C

[trimmed by moderator]

Duplicate post

Thanks.  That helped.

I found it here: c:\Users\xxxxx\Documents\My Games\Elemental

DebugMessage:  Version 0.22 last updated on: Thu Sep 17 11:59:54 2009
DebugMessage:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 9/17/2009, 18:07:39
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Machine Name: xxxxx-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Business (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.lh_sp2rtm.090410-1830)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Clevo Co.
System Model: M570U
BIOS: BIOS Revision:  1.00.06Sn2
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU         T7600  @ 2.33GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
Physical Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 1281MB used, 3052MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows

Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GTX / Quadro NVS 510M
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: Quadro NVS 510M
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0299&SUBSYS_05711558&REV_A1
Display Memory: 1272 MB
Current Display Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: nvd3dum.dll
Driver Version: 8.16.0011.9089
Driver Date: 8/27/2009 04:41:08
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
 

Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0880&SUBSYS_15580000&REV_1008
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHDA.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5350
Driver Date: 1/17/2007 09:44:22
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 

DebugMessage:  *********END dxdiag info.*********
DebugMessage:  Entering WinMain
DebugMessage:  ******* Starting Game Shell *******
DebugMessage:  Using 4 samples for multisampling.
DebugMessage:  Game Resolution: 1024 x 768 (full screen mode)
DebugMessage:  HAL (hardware vertex processing)NVIDIA GeForce Go 7900 GTX / Quadro NVS 510M
DebugMessage:  Presentation Interval: Immediate.
DebugMessage:  Refresh Rate: 0hz.
DebugMessage:  Back Buffer Bit Depth: X8R8G8B8.
DebugMessage:  32-bit z-buffer using 24-bits for the depth channel and 8-bits for the stencil channel.
DebugMessage:  ** Checking Direct3D 9 Device Capabilities ************************************
DebugMessage:  A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
DebugMessage:  Bump mapping is supported.
Debug Message:  Device is now ready
Debug Message:  GFX-THREAD: DISABLED
DebugMessage:  RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
DebugMessage:  Shell initialization complete
DebugMessage:  Elemental: War of Magic is activated.
DebugMessage:  ***** Initializing Game *****
DebugMessage:  No string tables in C:\Program Files\Stardock Games\Elemental\Data\English/*.tips
DebugMessage:  Timer Frequency is 0 da7a64
DebugMessage:  Initializing sound card.
DebugMessage:  initailizing bink
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask Music\*.mp3
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask Event Music\*.mp3
DebugMessage:  Unallocated Mem: 129 bytes of memory from line 218 of F:\Projects\Kumquat3D\Source\parse.cpp
DebugMessage:  Unallocated Mem: 129 bytes of memory from line 218 of F:\Projects\Kumquat3D\Source\parse.cpp
DebugMessage:  Not all memory has been freed from memory system Parse.
DebugMessage:     258 bytes of memory still allocated.

ah, I didn't realize it was put there. Here's mine:

DebugMessage:  Version 0.22 last updated on: Thu Sep 17 11:59:54 2009
DebugMessage:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 9/17/2009, 18:08:11
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
Machine Name: EHONDA
Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_rtm.090713-1255)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 07/31/07 17:17:09 Ver: 08.00.10
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     E4500  @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz
Physical Memory: 4096MB RAM
Page File: 1440MB used, 4955MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows

Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: Radeon X1900 Series (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) 
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor (0x7249)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_7249&SUBSYS_0B121002&REV_00
Display Memory: 1852 MB
Current Display Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution:
Driver Name: atiumdag,atiumdva,atiumd64.dll,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver Version: 8.14.0010.0630
Driver Date: 7/13/2009 21:40:03
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes
 

Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0882&SUBSYS_1043E601&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5911
Driver Date: 8/5/2009 17:46:38
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 
Sound device 1:
Description: Speakers (Creative SB Audigy 2 (WDM))
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_10021102&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1241
Driver Date: 4/10/2007 04:35:28
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 
Sound device 1:
Description: SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy 2 (WDM))
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_10021102&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1241
Driver Date: 4/10/2007 04:35:28
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 
Sound device 1:
Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0882&SUBSYS_1043E601&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.5911
Driver Date: 8/5/2009 17:46:38
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 1
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
 

DebugMessage:  *********END dxdiag info.*********
DebugMessage:  Entering WinMain
DebugMessage:  ******* Starting Game Shell *******
DebugMessage:  Using 4 samples for multisampling.
DebugMessage:  Game Resolution: 1024 x 768 (full screen mode)
DebugMessage:  HAL (hardware vertex processing)Radeon X1900 Series (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) 
DebugMessage:  Presentation Interval: Immediate.
DebugMessage:  Refresh Rate: 0hz.
DebugMessage:  Back Buffer Bit Depth: X8R8G8B8.
DebugMessage:  32-bit z-buffer using 24-bits for the depth channel and 8-bits for the stencil channel.
DebugMessage:  ** Checking Direct3D 9 Device Capabilities ************************************
DebugMessage:  A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
DebugMessage:  Bump mapping is supported.
Debug Message:  Device is now ready
Debug Message:  GFX-THREAD: DISABLED
DebugMessage:  RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
DebugMessage:  Shell initialization complete
DebugMessage:  Elemental: War of Magic is activated.
DebugMessage:  ***** Initializing Game *****
DebugMessage:  No string tables in C:\Apps\Games\Elemental\Data\English/*.tips
DebugMessage:  Timer Frequency is 0 20e647
DebugMessage:  Initializing sound card.
DebugMessage:  initailizing bink
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask Music\*.mp3
DebugMessage:  No files found matching mask Event Music\*.mp3

For the sake of keeping report threads readable, please don't post the full length dxdiag report here; preferably use pastebin.com or similar and link it, or just post the top part (down to the video section) unless asked otherwise. And if the game is running far enough to produce a debug.err, please post that instead.

In any case, there is an issue with generating some texture data (resulting in a crash from the splash/intro) at first run that is being investigated.