Personally, I love the way when I login I get a breakdown of the latest game change and then confirm that I have read it. I think it is a really effective way of making sure that every player knows about a game change or amendment.

This got me thinking about the new signup process and how this could be incorporated into it. I know there was talk of an Ellis Island style induction zone where you could learn the game in peace away from harm. I would suggest that the the announcement screen be different for new players and have some introductory mails/videos/graphics/whatever providing quick information on how to survive and a brief intro to the game.

This way, the information would be quickly sent to where it was needed and could then be assimilated by those who needed it the most, away from other players and not demanding that they read 1000s of words upon joining.

I apologise if something like this is applied to new master accounts, but assuming it isn't, I think it could be a good system. Feel free to tell me I'm an idiot if it is.

This actually seems to me at least to be a very good idea. But it has to be optional because not everybody who joins the game wants to sit and do a tutorial on how to play it. At least for me I personally skip any tutorial in a game i play. I like to learn as i go along

You could have a skip option, but a good introduction might help retention levels.

I think it might be a way of getting some of those signups who never log back in to at least play about long enough that they may stick for a bit.

I dont see a down side to this suggestion. I believe it would help keep new players that sign up, dont quiet grasp the concept, then never return again.