whenever I try and play the game, it begins to open, then just quits back to the desktop. how can I fix this?

Do you mean, when you try to start the game (by double-clicking its icon), or when you try to start a game (by starting a new match in the menus)?

when I try and run the program by double clicking the icon

Did you install the Beta update?

I experienced sometimes that I couldn't launch it too when the intro was activated. Try to change your shortcut's target to "your wa.exe path" /nointro.
If it doesn't work :

Did you install the Beta update?

I downloaded the beta, and the game now starts up, but when i actually try and start up any type of in game match, the program stops working