I just purchased Max Payne 3 from Steam. This game pauses itself randomly (the same behaviour as if you were to hit the escape key on your keyboard), and I don't know what the issue with because I have not experienced this with any other game (and I have a lot of games). It's not just me that is experiencing this: http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2728936. Here are my system specifications:
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120330-1504)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Alienware
System Model: Aurora-R4
BIOS: BIOS Date: 02/08/12 15:27:32 Ver: 04.06.05
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3960X CPU @ 3.30GHz (12 CPUs), ~3.3GHz
Memory: 16384MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 16336MB RAM
Page File: 3296MB used, 29374MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
Card name: AMD Radeon HD 7900 Series (i use two of these in CROSSFIREX mode)
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x679A)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_679A&SUBSYS_0B001002&REV_00
Display Memory: 1670 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1950 MB
Shared Memory: 3816 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (120Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: S27A950D
Monitor Id: SAM079F
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (119.982Hz)
Output Type: Displayport External
Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1124 (English)
Driver Version: 8.961.0.0
Best Answer
The recently released patch should alleviate the issue, if not, try using msconfig to disable sound drivers you aren't using on startup (Startup tab). If that doesn't work, go to device manager and disable sound devices you aren't using.