I have a 9800 GT and I'm wondering why can't I put it on Bloom, I check the Use Bloom Effect Box but then when I restart the game it's unchecked.
I wouldn't use bloom or HDR in Empires. There are several 'bloom unfriendly' maps out there (i.e. the textures glow like the sun). Particularly, duststorm, glycencity, cyclopean are the worst.