apparently using CPU with many cores breaks the game
applying a fix from Duke Nukem makes the game run again:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Massgate/comments/egzmjb/unable_to_play_world_in_conflict_1011_w_windows/

or direct link:

http://download.wicmwmod.com/support/wicdbg_gt16_core.zip

worked for me
enjoy

that link is dead use this, and download the wicdbg_gt16 there
http://iperf.packetsurge.net/support/

Thank you very much for this, I just bought the game on sale and I knew about the core problem but all the links were dead for me. I used to watch esports tournaments of the game when it was new, so its kinda funny to finally buy it in 2022 lol.

Super thx it works :)