So, yeah, this is the problem:

Whenever I install the game and launch it directly from the install 'launch game' button, it works fine (but this is only available once, right at the end of installation). Any time I try to use the shortcut or go directly to the application to launch I get a dialog box poppling up that says

Unhandled Exception

Could not read the configuration (lang) properly
Please deinstall this product and install it again.

This has not fixed the issue except for allowing me to launch it (just that once again) from the end of the install 'launch game' button.

Anyone have a fix?

(I've included images of the error message and of the installation page's launch interface, which is the only button it will launch from - and sadly which I cannot access but one time per install.)

EDIT: This seems to have been remedied by running it as the administrator account. Still having problems with the black screen/endless water issue, despite running it as admin and checking Direct X. I have DX11, does it *have* to be DX9, and if it does, how do I install DX9 without mucking up DX11?