I found how to change the icon for the shortcut, but I can't seem to do it with a duplicated copy of my 2D game (the first beta release) for experimental reasons only.

For the shortcut, just right-click on it, select properties, click the "change icon" button, click browse, find the ICO file you want to use (normally a 32x32 graphic), select it, and apply it.

This only works for the shortcut though. Perhaps you could make the EXE a hidden file (check the "hidden" flag for it's attributes). It would be less visible, unless the end user configured windows to display hidden files.

I'm just curious, but why is the icon required in all non-pro editions? The logos are required, but I don't get that of the icon....