The message is just to let you know the game cannot connect to do version verification. This usually means something is blocking the game from accessing the server. It can be a firewall, or port blocking, or a general issue with reaching the server itself.
Software which can inhibit the game would be any anti-virus, many malware blockers, and most security programs.
Note, if it is Norton blocking the game, the only way to stop it is to remove Norton from the computer and then get the tool from Symantec to restore the operation of the computer back to how it was before Norton molested it.
Just in case you are using a specific firewall which is IP address or port managing. The verification server is 206.16.60.42 and the port range is 3000 to 4000, inclusive.