Why care about Skyrim's menus?

[Jaime_Wolf]

My problem is that it is objectively NOT functional on the PC. It isn't just an issue of prettiness.

A good example is how easy it is to click JUST to the left of the words in the menu (still within the BOX of the menu) when you're trying to select a category of items in a shop, and it takes you out of the shop dialogue. That's silly.

Also, it would be so easy to just add an option to sort items by price/name/weight/type. And to make the inventory range over more than one dimension. Screens have two dimensions. Morrowind's inventory, while tremendously cluttered, was so much more functional. Morrowind recognized that having windows in a PC is useful - you shouldn't need to close the inventory and go back into the tab menu to select a different menu. Just give us all of the information (except maybe skills since there's a special thematic menu for that).

While it pains me to veer toward the "console port complaining" group that I usually despise, they really did drop the ball when they neglected to develop a separate UI for the PC version (as plenty of smaller PC+console releases regularly manage).

Luckily, it's such an amazing game that everything else easily overshadows these problems.

 

[Xaio30]

I really like the menu and how easy it is to navigate with your keyboard only.
My only dismay is that I don't have as good view of my character while equipping new stuff.

Example: Tab+S+S is faster than reaching over to the M button.

Also, the Favorites is a really good replacement for the 1-9 hotkeys. It may take lightly longer to equip something than 1-9, but you can have more than 9 items/skills at your leisure.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Why we care if an essential part of our triple A $60 game was brought straight from the 1980s but controls even worse... well I don't know really, we're just petty that way.

 

[Herr Uhl]

The mouse detection is the worst I've experienced in any game. That is bad.

I hate the perk tree's, sure they're pretty, but they are a nightmare to navigate.

 

[A Free Man]

I've been seeing numerous threads and articles complaining about Skyrim's interface and menu and what I just can't understand is...why? Why does it matter if the menu is slightly worse than it was in Oblivion? Does it still work for you? Can you still get to your items? Is at least partially organized? Yes, yes, and yes. So why make a big fuss over it? Judging from the tone of many of the comments regarding it, they almost make it out to be a total gamebreaker, when it's not.

Basic point, if you're going to complain about a game, make it so with decent points. Not because the menu doesn't look purrty.

Hehe this is so weird, because I have noticed all the people raging about it too but I actually prefer the new menu. I like that you can set favorites, but I'll admit that before I found out you can bind keys I was annoyed. But now that I know how I think the new menus are cool.

 

[Knusper]

It's alright once you realise that you can shortcut to any of the menus with I, P, M or V. What I have a problem with in Skyrim is the bugs, but that might be partly down to me downloading so many texturing mods during the week.

 

[zxvcasdfqwerzxcv]

Seems like it's primarily a PC gamer problem, I've had no issues on 360 regarding menus.
As for aesthetics, I think I prefer the new look; simpler, clearer and more intuitive than Oblivion's menus!
Still, I would like sub-menus for chest though...

 

[pluizig]

I really like the menu and how easy it is to navigate with your keyboard only.

Example: Tab+S+S is faster than reaching over to the M button.

No. Pressing M is one action. Pressing Tab, S, and S again is three actions.

 

[Craorach]

I've played well over a hundred hours of Skyrim so far, and honestly my only major complaint is the menus.. but they are horrible. Even the skill "star" system that I initially liked is ruined because of how unresponsive and random it is on PC.

My biggest problem with it is just the fact that it can't seem to make its mind up what button does what. Some parts need keys, some need mouse, some need enter keys, some need tab, some won't accept any interaction other than the mouse.. some keyboard.

Other than that, it is just horribly clunky and hard to get information. Having to go through multiple menus to see what buffs I have, being unable to easily compare one item to another, having no breath bar and being unable to see a merchant's items at the same time as my own are all really annoying.

 

[Continuity]

I've been seeing numerous threads and articles complaining about Skyrim's interface and menu and what I just can't understand is...why? Why does it matter if the menu is slightly worse than it was in Oblivion? Does it still work for you? Can you still get to your items? Is at least partially organized? Yes, yes, and yes. So why make a big fuss over it? Judging from the tone of many of the comments regarding it, they almost make it out to be a total gamebreaker, when it's not.

Basic point, if you're going to complain about a game, make it so with decent points. Not because the menu doesn't look purrty.

Because its an unnecessary step backwards, the old menus were more effective. Not only is that annoying but its a big fail in game design... changes ought at least to do no harm, if they're a step backward then that is a class A fail.

And its not about looking "purrty" its about being functional.

I've played well over a hundred hours of Skyrim so far, and honestly my only major complaint is the menus.. but they are horrible. Even the skill "star" system that I initially liked is ruined because of how unresponsive and random it is on PC.

My biggest problem with it is just the fact that it can't seem to make its mind up what button does what. Some parts need keys, some need mouse, some need enter keys, some need tab, some won't accept any interaction other than the mouse.. some keyboard.

Other than that, it is just horribly clunky and hard to get information. Having to go through multiple menus to see what buffs I have, being unable to easily compare one item to another, having no breath bar and being unable to see a merchant's items at the same time as my own are all really annoying.

Exactly this, its less functional.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

I've played well over a hundred hours of Skyrim so far, and honestly my only major complaint is the menus.. but they are horrible. Even the skill "star" system that I initially liked is ruined because of how unresponsive and random it is on PC.

My biggest problem with it is just the fact that it can't seem to make its mind up what button does what. Some parts need keys, some need mouse, some need enter keys, some need tab, some won't accept any interaction other than the mouse.. some keyboard.

Other than that, it is just horribly clunky and hard to get information. Having to go through multiple menus to see what buffs I have, being unable to easily compare one item to another, having no breath bar and being unable to see a merchant's items at the same time as my own are all really annoying.

You know the compass bar at the top is basically your shout cooldown timer, right?

After you shout, it glows, then fades, once it does, you can shout again.

I really like the menu and how easy it is to navigate with your keyboard only.
My only dismay is that I don't have as good view of my character while equipping new stuff.

Example: Tab+S+S is faster than reaching over to the M button.

Also, the Favorites is a really good replacement for the 1-9 hotkeys. It may take lightly longer to equip something than 1-9, but you can have more than 9 items/skills at your leisure.

Once again, move the camera around to in front of you, where you can see your character, then enter your inventory, and viola! You can see the gear change before your very eyes! (At least, on 360 you can. Haven't played on PC yet.)

 

[Lazy Kitty]

Some filters on the chests like there are in your own inventory and with merchants would be nice...

 

[Herr Uhl]

I've played well over a hundred hours of Skyrim so far, and honestly my only major complaint is the menus.. but they are horrible. Even the skill "star" system that I initially liked is ruined because of how unresponsive and random it is on PC.

My biggest problem with it is just the fact that it can't seem to make its mind up what button does what. Some parts need keys, some need mouse, some need enter keys, some need tab, some won't accept any interaction other than the mouse.. some keyboard.

Other than that, it is just horribly clunky and hard to get information. Having to go through multiple menus to see what buffs I have, being unable to easily compare one item to another, having no breath bar and being unable to see a merchant's items at the same time as my own are all really annoying.

You know the compass bar at the top is basically your shout cooldown timer, right?

After you shout, it glows, then fades, once it does, you can shout again.

I don't think that applies to holding your breath while swimming.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

I've played well over a hundred hours of Skyrim so far, and honestly my only major complaint is the menus.. but they are horrible. Even the skill "star" system that I initially liked is ruined because of how unresponsive and random it is on PC.

My biggest problem with it is just the fact that it can't seem to make its mind up what button does what. Some parts need keys, some need mouse, some need enter keys, some need tab, some won't accept any interaction other than the mouse.. some keyboard.

Other than that, it is just horribly clunky and hard to get information. Having to go through multiple menus to see what buffs I have, being unable to easily compare one item to another, having no breath bar and being unable to see a merchant's items at the same time as my own are all really annoying.

You know the compass bar at the top is basically your shout cooldown timer, right?

After you shout, it glows, then fades, once it does, you can shout again.

I don't think that applies to holding your breath while swimming.

OOOOOooooooooooooooooh, my bad. I thought 'breath' meant 'dragon breath'. Silly me. My mistake.

 

[Craorach]

You know the compass bar at the top is basically your shout cooldown timer, right?

After you shout, it glows, then fades, once it does, you can shout again.

Yes, I am aware of that. I'm pretty sure I didn't include "no way of knowing if our shouts are up" as one of my UI complaints.

 

[King of the Sandbox]

You know the compass bar at the top is basically your shout cooldown timer, right?

After you shout, it glows, then fades, once it does, you can shout again.

Yes, I am aware of that. I'm pretty sure I didn't include "no way of knowing if our shouts are up" as one of my UI complaints.

See above. That was my mistake. My bad.

 

[Ilikemilkshake]

I've been seeing numerous threads and articles complaining about Skyrim's interface and menu and what I just can't understand is...why? Why does it matter if the menu is slightly worse than it was in Oblivion? Does it still work for you? Can you still get to your items? Is at least partially organized? Yes, yes, and yes. So why make a big fuss over it? Judging from the tone of many of the comments regarding it, they almost make it out to be a total gamebreaker, when it's not.

Basic point, if you're going to complain about a game, make it so with decent points. Not because the menu doesn't look purrty.

Yes people are going on about it like the UI has physically violated them in some way.. but the complaints about the UI are genuine and completely warranted, especially considering that previous Bethesda games pretty decent menus.. i dont really remember that being a complaint about FO3 FO:NV or Oblivion... so i dont really know why they decided to go for something so radically different.

This handy image someone made pretty much sums it up.

Spoiler

 

[King of the Sandbox]

I've been seeing numerous threads and articles complaining about Skyrim's interface and menu and what I just can't understand is...why? Why does it matter if the menu is slightly worse than it was in Oblivion? Does it still work for you? Can you still get to your items? Is at least partially organized? Yes, yes, and yes. So why make a big fuss over it? Judging from the tone of many of the comments regarding it, they almost make it out to be a total gamebreaker, when it's not.

Basic point, if you're going to complain about a game, make it so with decent points. Not because the menu doesn't look purrty.

Yes people are going on about it like the UI has physically violated them in some way.. but the complaints about the UI are genuine and completely warranted, especially considering that previous Bethesda games pretty decent menus.. i dont really remember that being a complaint about FO3 FO:NV or Oblivion... so i dont really know why they decided to go for something so radically different.

This handy image someone made pretty much sums it up.

Spoiler

I have no trouble with any of these things. Especially with the addition of the 'favorites' option. But hey, maybe I'm just not that much of a perfectionist. /shrug

 

[Jandau]

Wait... what? Skyrim's interface worse than Oblivion's? On what drugs do you have to be to even consider that?

Skyrim's interface is easier to read and is less cluttered.
Skyrim's interface can easily be controlled with the keyboard. In fact, the keyboard makes it easier to use.
Skyrim's interface can in face be controlled with only one hand (any shortcut that requires "Enter" also accepts "E").
It's easy to move between your inventory and the chest/corpse/shop inventories. Crafting is stupidly easy to do.
The Favourites menu gives another layer of convenience in addition to the standard 1-8 keybinds and it's quite welcome considering the number of spells, items and shouts you need to manage as the game gets warmed up.

The only aspect of the interface that's a bit unwieldy are the Perk constellations, but how often do you need to navigate those?

Overall, Skyrim's interface is great. It's a console-friendly interface that also works quite well on the PC. Oblivion's interface was a flaming pile of poop in comparison...

 

[Unknower]

Is this a good time to post a picture of Morrowind's inventory?

Spoiler

Those windows are resizable. It wasn't perfect (potions were kinda confusing when you had lots of them) but still, quite good and fast to use.

Unfortunately, that kind of a UI doesn't work on a TV screen so Oblivion and Skyrim have UIs better suited for consoles. But you have to wonder, why can't they make a different UI for the PC-version?

EDIT: Ninja'd.