[Rachael Williams]

Looking closer at the screenshot... Could it be that those smaller "skill signs" are parts of the bigger ones? Destruction would certainly fit the head part of the mage sign, with only the brightest stars actually forming it... :unsure2:

I think you're onto something here

"We're still planning on having hotkeys on PC. A couple other things to note from this thread:

For those wondering, the sky you see is the menu is not the actual sky when playing the game – it’s just the “menu’s sky”.
Also, the map is treated, meaning, it doesn’t look exactly as it does in the world. And with all the mountains in Skyrim, you get a lot of high views of the actual world. It looks really great, and is a feature of the game that always impresses me when I see it."

Thanks so much for clarifying that.

[Hairul Hafis]

So thats at least good news

But still, looks like the UI is entirely evolved around a console again, though improved. :cryvaultboy:

Not that big a deal, there could be worse things. As long as I can find the armor im wearing in the menu I should be good.

[ruCkii]

We're still planning on having hotkeys on PC. A couple other things to note from this thread:

• For those wondering, the sky you see is the menu is not the actual sky when playing the game – it’s just the “menu’s sky”.
  
• Also, the map is treated, meaning, it doesn’t look exactly as it does in the world. And with all the mountains in Skyrim, you get a lot of high views of the actual world. It looks really great, and is a feature of the game that always impresses me when I see it.

So there will be tweaks for the PC version of the UI. That's a good thing to know.

[Jeff Tingler]

Disappointing to say the least. Article completely ignored the PC UI. I'm hoping that's because they have something more to reveal. Just looking at that screenshot makes me cringe at how annoying it would be for PC. Another clunky, annoying UI that ignores the fact that the PC has these little things called a Mouse and Keyboard.

Their approach seems to be a variation of "no-one notices anything smells if we don't talk about it". :sadvaultboy:

The menus in Oblivion functioned, but they were essentially a cumbersome medieval equivalent to Excel documents. For the sequel, Bethesda is striving for a friendlier user interface.

I'm speechless... Oblivion's menus functioned? LOL. Morrowind had functional menus, OB had very cumbersome and streamlined version of them. Almost seems they're thinking friendly equals not much information on the screen. It's easier to comprehend at first sight, but when user comes in to terms with it it's going to show a lack of ability to instantly show required data.

Instead of relegating players to looking at an item’s name and stat attributes, each possession is a tangible three dimensional item with its own unique qualities.

So insted of giving us information about the item we get a fancy 3d-viewer? I really hope they paint a lot worse picture than actually is the case. We'll probably have the screen divided in two - left side showing the items and right side showing the 3d-viewer and hopefully more detailed information about the item as well.

Though you can choose how many items appear, you can’t determine the order; items and spells are listed alphabetically.

And this is a good design decision because...? Why not let the player to customize the order so that he/she can create logical categories for faster and more logical selection? This should be a no-brainer...

[rae.x]

We're still planning on having hotkeys on PC. A couple other things to note from this thread:

• For those wondering, the sky you see is the menu is not the actual sky when playing the game – it’s just the “menu’s sky”.

Thank you for confirming this. It's like I said earlier, it was just a symbolic night sky and not a literal night sky.

So there will be tweaks for the PC version of the UI. That's a good thing to know.

Not necessarily, he just meant that there will be hotkeys like in almost every PC game.

[Bitter End]

I doubt GI got a PC copy, otherwise theyd mentioned it

[Cccurly]

So no hotkeys on consoles? What do you mean the map is "treated"?

[Eliza Potter]

it's coming today!

[NAkeshIa BENNETT]

I hope the night sky is similar to the main menu sky but whatever Bethesda does with the night sky it'll probably be good.

I liked the article it kinda revealed a new skill. I'm gonna guess it's Speechcraft but we'll wait and see. :foodndrink:

[koumba]

From the great Gstaff from the last thread:

We're still planning on having hotkeys on PC. A couple other things to note from this thread:

For those wondering, the sky you see is the menu is not the actual sky when playing the game – it’s just the “menu’s sky”.
Also, the map is treated, meaning, it doesn’t look exactly as it does in the world. And with all the mountains in Skyrim, you get a lot of high views of the actual world. It looks really great, and is a feature of the game that always impresses me when I see it.

Gstaff, have you ever been called a saint before? Because you are.

There goes one of my main worries about the new UI. Let's hope the others are eventually sorted out or cleared up on as well.

[Cash n Class]

We're still planning on having hotkeys on PC. A couple other things to note from this thread:

• For those wondering, the sky you see is the menu is not the actual sky when playing the game – it’s just the “menu’s sky”.
  
• Also, the map is treated, meaning, it doesn’t look exactly as it does in the world. And with all the mountains in Skyrim, you get a lot of high views of the actual world. It looks really great, and is a feature of the game that always impresses me when I see it.

That's some good news. :celebration:
Now I really have nothing to complain about the menus.

[chloe hampson]

Speaking as a console gamer, I was kind of disappointed in this update. The radial menu thing sounds more frustrating than anything else. There was really nothing wrong with the Morrowind and Oblivion UIs on console, Bethesda. The Skyrim UI just sounds like it adds too many unnecessary button presses. Besidess, I have sympathy for the PC people, even if the feeling probably isn't mutual.

[Alex Blacke]

How can the map not look exactly like it is in the world?

[Jay Baby]

So no hotkeys on consoles? What do you mean the map is "treated"?

There aren't hotkeys on the consoles anyhow, that was a given. Treated map means it is like the previous maps, you won't be able to make out every nook and cranny, it will be hazed and you will still have to discover things.

[KRistina Karlsson]

So no hotkeys on consoles? What do you mean the map is "treated"?

It means what you get in the map UI isn't purely "generated" from the actual game world, it's more or less hand-tweaked to show or hide as many or as little detail as the devs desire.

[Stephy Beck]

Let's hope the others are eventually sorted out or cleared up on as well.

Definitely keep your burning questions in mind. Eventually we'll be able to do some community interview stuff -- whether it's stuff like we've done in the past, taking questions on the podcast, or something else. Date TBD.

And as far as the menus go, eventually there will be an opportunity to see it all in action. That should answer many of your questions by itself.

[Sasha Brown]

So up on the dpad brings you to the menu and from there it is a four way compass toggle? How do you get to favorites then?

[Ana]

Speaking as a console gamer, I was kind of disappointed in this update. The radial menu thing sounds more frustrating than anything else. There was really nothing wrong with the Morrowind and Oblivion UIs on console, Bethesda. The Skyrim UI just sounds like it adds too many unnecessary button presses. Besidess, I have sympathy for the PC people, even if the feeling probably isn't mutual.

I play on the 360 and I feel the same way

[Elizabeth Lysons]

There aren't hotkeys on the consoles anyhow, that was a given. Treated map means it is like the previous maps, you won't be able to make out every nook and cranny, it will be hazed and you will still have to discover things.

Oblivion had hotkeys on the console. Its called the DPAD.

[Betsy Humpledink]

How can the map not look exactly like it is in the world?

How can maps look not exactly like they are in the world in real life? Because they're made that way. Same thing here.

[Austin England]

The Oblivion UI was allright but I hated how you had to scroll down just to look at a pair of enchanted gauntlets, just so you could see the effect. The Skyrim UI sounds sweet and I can't wait to find out more info.

[Micah Judaeah]

I think you're onto something here

Yes, shoddy attempts at combining the signs in Paint.Net even prove to look somewhat similar to the mage constellation of old. I'm far too embarrassed to upload that anywhere though. :rolleyes:
So, anyone with mad PS skills here? ^_^

[Laurenn Doylee]

Definitely keep your burning questions in mind. Eventually we'll be able to do some community interview stuff -- whether it's stuff like we've done in the past, taking questions on the podcast, or something else. Date TBD.

Why must you keep being so amazing??? :ahhh:

Seriously though, thanks. It's nice that someone in Bethesda's ranks is listening to us and answering any questions and concerns we may have.

I'll definitely keep my questions in mind.

[Lucie H]

Definitely keep your burning questions in mind. Eventually we'll be able to do some community interview stuff -- whether it's stuff like we've done in the past, taking questions on the podcast, or something else. Date TBD.

And as far as the menus go, eventually there will be an opportunity to see it all in action. That should answer many of your questions by itself.

Yes please. I really, really want to see a fan interview like with Shivering Isles and Fallout 3. I feel like that's the only chance the community gets to hear about your games without the filter of the mainstream gaming media which does such a poor job of relaying information (Game Informer...dear vivec why?)

[Robert Devlin]

It means what you get in the map UI isn't purely "generated" from the actual game world, it's more or less hand-tweaked to show or hide as many or as little detail as the devs desire.

Here's one example of how to do it, strategic view from Supreme Commander: http://rakrent.com/rtsc/pix/supcom/supcom-stratview.jpg