Xenon:
Just checked the new build on my EM500 and you're right- something has changed for the worse at least on this model. Mine goes a little further than the LucasArts logo, but eventually crashes out of the program back to the desktop, with FOA and MI1.
I noticed that the new EXE file is 10% larger than the last build. I wonder if the EM500 memory limitations are becoming a problem. I'll have to try it on my E125 that has 32mb and see if the larger Program-available memory works. (My EM500 had about 9mb program memory available when it was crashing- that had worked fine with the last build).