Whenever i start the game (regardless of quality settings), it crashes the seconds it hits the main menu. I woke up at 2 in the morning to play the game, and am now re-installing it. I cannot even express how frustrated I am. I checked the specs, and I'm well within the recommended area.. Anybody else has a similar problem?

From another post:

Start -> Control Panel -> Sound

Select the output speakers being used and click Properties

Under the advanced tab, change the sample rate to 24 bit / 44100 Hz

See if that works.

yeah,i've literally seen it a minute ago, thanks anyway

Thanks guineapigofdoom. You rock. Someone sticky the post please.

Same as op, my game crashed to desktop after the first animation playes and the black logo first showed up.

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For the developers trying to fix this, previous setting was : 24 bit / 192000 (studio quality), changing it to 24 bit / 44100 Hz fixed it.
Specs:
Running retail preordered Steam edition - updates enabled (latest as of Nov11-2011, 2AM GMT)
Win 7 64 bit ultimate
Gigabyte Nvidia 480 (GV-N480D5-15I- (latest released driver - 285.62
Core I7 extreme x980 - 24 GB Kingston RAM
Realtek HD Audio on Gigabyte X58A-UD7 mobo
Also klite codecs installed
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Changing sound settings doesnt work for me!