Assuming the directional pad will have a similar function as it did in Oblivion/Fallout3, I would like to suggest a small change.

Originally, the first four hotkeys are located on the LEFT, RIGHT, UP, and DOWN directions of the D-pad, which works fine. Then we have the next four hotkeys on DIAGONAL directions of the D-Pad. Here lies the problem. Half the time we try and select one of the DIAGONAL hotkeys we end up with a LEFT/RIGHT/UP/DOWN hotkey instead. Having to finagle the D-Pad around to get the weapon you want is an extremely frustrating problem, and is more than a frequent enough issue to merit a change. The problem lies in the construction of the console controllers which have poor precision in the D-Pad. Be that as it may, this shortcoming should still be taken into consideration by game developers.

I propose that instead of using DIAGONAL directions for hotkeys, you use a DOUBLE-TAP option for the other four hotkeys. For example, pressing UP on the D-Pad would bring out your sword, while pressing UP-UP would bring out your bow. This would keep the eight hotkey layout unchanged, and at the same time make the game more comfortable for the players. And considering the chances are good that we will be putting hundreds of hours of play into this game, having a comfortable and intuitive control scheme should be top priority.

Thanks.

I play on the pc and the 360, and while I like your idea I don't have as much of a problem with the d-pad. I either angle my thumb so the tip is pressing on the corner, not the whole thumb, or I just hold the dpad and then roll my thumb to the corner. Idk, i have never had much trouble with the infamous Corners.

I like the way it is right now, been a console player for ages, must be 9 years by now. The easiest solution ofcourse would be to only use four of the hotkeys, the two hardest diagonal hotkeys to trigger are left-down and right-up, the rigth-down is really easy and so is the left-up.Thus, you have 6 hotkeys, should be enligh now that we can (possibly?) hotkey a full play style into one hotkey, such a weapon, spell, shout and armor.

I don't understand. Why reduce yourself to less hotkeys when a simple change could give you all eight?

I read this as "hockey" its skyrim so it wasn't to far of a shot.

Oh? Can I borrow your pre-release copy of Skyrim?

Sure man, just have it back by next week, there's a quest i really want to finish

It doesn't.
Up on the d-pad opens the favourites menu where you can bind as many items and spells as you want. What the other three directions do I don't know.

Also, items can be selected for each hand individually, I think with a separate menu for each hand.

Hell I'll take both ways.

And I would like a scroll kind of thing with the d-pad really.