I prefer a pretty login screen with the basic New Load and Delete buttons, as well as a browser window that gives me all the information I need to get started playing. Race and class descriptions, world background, help files for controls, verbs and in-game systems like guilds and skills, and anything else that would be benefitial to the new player.

I think alert boxes are cheap and detract from the game, especially in the very begining when you're trying to impress the player and keep them interested. It's ok for beta stages until you get your login system complete, but not for the final product.

I also can't stand it when a game asks you to choose a race and class without FIRST giving you the specific details of each race and class. You have to make a junk character first before you can tell which type you really want, and that can take some time, depending on the game.

Before you try marketing your game, show it to your family, especially anyone not familiar with BYOND. Just watch as they try to get it started, note any difficulties they have, and change them to be more user-friendly. There's a name for this kind of testing, but I forget it at 3:22am. :P

~X

I like my info in browser windows. It's easy to control and doesn't clog an already small viewport.
Alert boxes are way to generic for information. They're only really useful for 'yes/no/maybe' selections.