Can't get into the game without crashing.

Hi, I recently discovered this game and am looking forward to playing, but first I have a problem. Every time I start it up, it just closes, at the blurry screen. It used to give me an error but it doesn't do it anymore. I have clean installed it again and again at least 5 times. By installing 2.24, clean. Then installing the hotfix. What should I do?

 

When you're installing, MAKE SURE steam is NOT ONLINE. I'm pretty sure it's necessary.

 

Got source sdk base installed?

 

Done
&
Yes

Also, I'm trying the download from raegquit, before I was doing the other and it was much faster, this one has downloaded slower and installed slower so far, maybe this is it?

 

Got orange box sdk base installed?.... Nah seriously, I don't know.

 

I'm pretty sure empires doesn't start with a blurry screen? Are you just getting the lost coast background? If you are then it is likely a problem with your SDK Bases, reinstall them.