Let me point you to Firefox (the browser). It has a stable version and a nightly build. The stable version is feature-incomplete, but it's not in a testing stage. The nightly build is feature-complete, but it is in testing stage.
So, the stable version we are pointed towards is in fact a software in development, but we do not point to it as a testing build.
So why do you say that an Early Access title is in the testing stage? Or do you really think that the developers do not do any kind of testing themselves before pushing the build to the public?

Cool, thanks :-D

Nice, it IS a Megalodon! :)
Interesting first impression. Played till the second port, the one after the Shark attack. It looked & played very good regardless of the apparently very suboptimal GPU (see last post). No crashes and very good to get into with the controls. The sinking of other ships was fun. The boarding a bit hectic but looked nice enough (and I'm sure the hectic impression come only from having a boarding the first time in this game).

I look really forward to what else gets into it :)

Now the banter:
The two characters are very ok as placeholders. I can even imagine someone creating/recreating them... (I was polite) it really needs customization. I faintly remember reading something like that is in works, I hope it was that. Some ppl like the gritty real look, some ppl like that with another skin color, some ppl like their chars look like supermodels because they get gritty real burned out look every morning in the mirror before work.

I love that switch between the XO and my char so I could explore the ship a bit; an activity which probably increases with increasing ship size. No need to do so with pulled out gun; a holster/unholster button would be awesome. While we are at weapons: Swords incoming; or already there just later than at the second port?

Ship-view. It feels a bit too close. Is it planned to scroll out a bit and center view? Nearly rammed an island because the Sail blocked the view... (I should add it was in the middle of a stormy night).

So far the port interactions was just simple pragmatic screens with the charm of an Excel sheet on a color screen. The towns from the outside looks really awesome and inviting to leave ship for a walk. I guess if thats not planned & in works now the best chances would be a full blown Xpack but I really would love to hear your thoughts about it.

So thats my first ride with Man O War; hope the points raised are not perceived as trashing since, as said, I really look forward how it develops and would not bother to write all that if I did not care or did not liked what I saw. I'll check it out again as soon as I can change how my char looks.

edit:
some corrections; it was late ;)

Dark Souls 3 in its current condition is a bit of a joke.
The highlights for me were Stories, and the big update for Thea. While this game won't be a highlight just yet for me, it will be once majority of the planned features are implemented.
Thank the gift of having our own individual opinion :3

Question for the devs, sorry for the list but I like to know ahead of time before buying this game

- Will this game be able to support sli,crossfire?

- Multi monitor support?

- 120hz monitor?

- 4k res support?

- Orc captain?

- Can we choose anything besides humans? I want a ship with stinkin orcs to dominate!

- upgradable ships to fend from that massive fucking shark?

- Better not be capped at 30 fps or totalbiscuit will rip you a new one

- able to put decals on ship or any type of customization?

- Hirable crew men and stats per guy that makes for unique gameplay?

- clothing option?

- Overclock friendly? as some games tend to crash due to overclocked system parts... Cough cough the division.

- Any type of sandbox mode free roam? or is it strictly tied to go there and here type of game?

And last but not least, First time I been kinda hyped for a pirate game so DON'T SCREW IT UP PLEASE <3

What is your player character customisation like. Can you change, sex, faces etc . I Like the look of this game and will possibly pick this up but i also like being able to create my own character in these kinds of game.

Well, one question I do have is, what is it that inspired that title? I have to admit that the first thing that came to mind was the image found on all of those 'Worst Album Cover' blogs.

Thanks for the reply and i think i will just go and buy it. Hope it does well for you.

Considering that this is a game based on a Games Workshop license, I fairly sure it's based on this : https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2516/man-o-war

Just what I wanted to hear! sounds great picking it up.

if you can set the framerate cap higher that would be great near the end of production. thanks for the response.

Whilst I appreciate the firefox example, I do not believe it is applicable because
1. the software is open source
2. the software is in constant change (it has to be by its very nature of using the net)

I say that an early access/in development title is in the testing stage because it clearly is just obviously that, it is not just limited to the fact that is not feature complete. Any current build or new build with the addition of new features will not be solely tested by the devs- they are relying on those that have paid up front to at the very least point out any flaws including bugs.

All I am trying to say-regardless of any ones take on whether or not this kind of product release is detrimental or beneficial to the paying customer- is that you should not dismiss other people posting in these forums when they say that this effectively amounts to paying for beta testing because there quite clearly is an element of this.

Arrrrgh! Cool stuff! Arrrrgh!