Viper, downloading the entire game from the download link ISN'T actually updating your game - it is actually just downloading an old copy. Next time you try to run the game, it will just attempt to update again, resulting in the same problem.
As Mike said, the most recent version of the game isn't loading the fonts properly. Mike accidentally mixed some old copies of files with new copies of other files, which resulted in broken fonts. There is nothing wrong with your game resolution at all, all that has happened is the game is loading the fonts incorrectly, resulting in them covering the empire stats.
I actually already posted about this in the Supremacy Pre-release download thread
Here before my internet access at home died. Don't worry about the problem, Mike will release an update to fix it as soon as he can - in fact he may already have done so. I can't check it myself since my internet connection at home is dead. (I'm using the computers in uni at the moment) The telegraph pole in the street developed an electrical fault on friday and burned down so about 12 houses in my street - including mine - currently have no phone, and therefore no internet acess.
_________________"Anyone without a sense of humour is truly at the mercy of the rest of us."