http://bugs.winehq.org/show_bug.cgi?id=23586
--- Comment #4 from Andrew Nguyen arethusa26@gmail.com 2010-07-11 17:14:28 --- The launcher issue is due to:
fixme:shdocvw:ProvideClassInfo_GetClassInfo (0x13c9e0)->(0x86e658)
Installing ie6 from winetricks lets the launcher start. I can't reproduce the message box with the game itself unless I forcibly hack the install-time region check rather than tunneling the authentication connection through a UK host.