Back when I was initially designing Atlarius, I toyed with the idea of using Django to create it. In fact, I went so far as to begin to describe the data models using Django’s system. I found, however, that a limitation in the way I could describe the models caused me an issue at the very start. I forget exactly what it was, but though I probably could have found a way around the problem it caused me to think “If I have already hit a problem, should I take the chance of encountering ones with no solutions later in the project?” So, I scrapped the idea and went with PHP.
However, recently I have found myself applying for a developer position involving Django. For this reason, I decided to take a closer look at Django. In a few easy steps, I created myself a simple blogging system allowing user comments (screenshots here and here). I was quite impressed by how easily the administration module and HTML forms were created with Django.
So, here I am, both impressed by Django and wanting to learn more about it. I am considering using Django to create a simple version of the Atlarius engine and see how difficult it is. On the other hand, that seems like such wasted effort. I’ll have to see if I can think of another useful project to create with Django. Or perhaps a worthwhile project to contribute to. Decisions, decisions.
Well, perhaps nothing so dramatic as the title implies. Yet several of my (volunteer) testers indicated that they felt the alpha test would contain more content instead of just a pure technical shell. Since I am more or less at the mercy of my testers, I have decided to delay the release until I have worked out the lore, the units, the tutorials, the technologies, etc. This may take a significant amount of time, which is why I wanted to push forward to the alpha right away. I guess I was a little too over eager and forgot that the users’ interest was in the content, not the technical aspects like my interest.
The time is almost here. Many, many hours of development have gone into the overall product. Now, finally, that effort is about to come to fruition. It is almost time for the Atlarius closed alpha! So for all the people who have offered to test the game, your time is almost here. I want to thank you all for your interest in Atlarius; without it, the soul of the development effort would be gone.
I hesitate to promise a date. There are always last minute problems that cause many more headaches than expected. However, barring that… fourteen days at the inside. Twenty-eight at the outside, and the game server should be ready for multi-user alpha testing. I hope everyone reading this is looking forward to it as much as I am 
