Why care about Skyrim's menus?

[Craorach]

Let me describe how can a "good interface" be:

before:
http://i.imgur.com/CahCf.jpg

after:
http://i.imgur.com/4NgHv.jpg

If you tell "why should I care about your problems on the menu?"
then, this is a sign of lack of empathy.

Please tell me the second one is a mod available and not just a photoshop..

 

[Hisshiss]

Why is it that every flaw a PC gamer finds in one of their games is attributed to it being related to consoles? Im honestly curious, are consoles just the ultimate dirty word in your culture of something? I mean really, since when does menu lag have even the slightest relation to it being made for multiple systems?

Edit: For the record, the menu lags its ass off on the 360 too, so for all the special love consoles apparently got, it didn't do much good.

I'm not going to deny that, sometimes, perhaps even often.. PC gamers blame consoles for things that are just poor design choices all around.

This menu system, however... when you compare it to similar PC orientated titles, is clearly designed with console controllers in mind and hasn't been sufficiently reworked to make it even remotely convenient or conventional for PC users. It may be poorly implemented even on the consoles, but on the PC it becomes a real chore, made more so because of the super minimal general UI means little to no information is accessible without digging into it.

Actually now that I really sit back and think about it, alot of Skyrims menus do seem like they would be a nightmare without an analog stick o.o. The PC version actually uses the exact same interface? I guess you guys are actually right about this one then xD.

Doesn't seem like it would be all that hard for them to have unique interfaces for different systems, I mean considering the obscene amount of content in the game you can't really say they didn't put the time investment into it.

 

[VladG]

Let me describe how can a "good interface" be:

before:
http://i.imgur.com/CahCf.jpg

after:
http://i.imgur.com/4NgHv.jpg

If you tell "why should I care about your problems on the menu?"
then, this is a sign of lack of empathy.

Thank you! that is a brilliant menu system, it's still as aesthetically pleasing as the original one, but much, much better to navigate around in.

Just a question, this wouldn't happen to be a work in progress mod would it?

 

[Spoon E11]

Well I do Find them irritating, many times the mouse doesn't work properly I have pressed one option and its given me another. It's not very responsive for those using a mouse and keyboard. I am eagerly awaiting this:

http://forums.bethsoft.com/index.php?/topic/1278538-skyrim-ui-pc-specific-redesign-no-2/page__p__19326414#entry19326414

 

[Levethian]

Looking forward to those UI mods .

Still, it seems that some people can't scroll without breaking down into a fit of tears or rage, given the amount of fuss this is causing.

 

[Elsarild]

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.

The reason it is annoying is because, it's fricking annoying all the time, it is constantly grinding my gears, I don't have a count of how many times shop owners have closed the browsing window while I was browsing, People have become hostile because it tought that I wanted to intimidate them, rather than persuade them, or the fact that I've wasted 25k on a house I didn't want because the interface blows.

I know I can fix it by using my controller but 1. it should not be necessary for people who don't have this kind of peripherals to go out and buy them to play their game. And 2. I play as a sneaky assassin/theif with a bow, I can't do as well with a controller, I need the finess of a mouse.

You might not think of it as a direct gamebreaker, but when I can't have proper control and that leads to gangs and people attacking me for no reason, wasting my money on shit I don't want, wasting my time by showing me a 3D model of a book thats a copy paste 6 times through my entire list of books, and screwing me over in speechcraft and closing off entire quest lines because of derp-di-doo, it is a gamebreaker.

 

[Wayneguard]

About one in four times, when I open the menu it'll freeze for a few seconds like the game is trying to decide if it really wants to let me unequip my heal spell and equip a sword. That kind of shit is unacceptable. I own a blackberry so I get enough of the nonresponsive menu/freezing bullshit on that front. I do not need it in my game.

 

[Flames66]

Why care about the menus? Because I have to use them to do anything. (or I will when I get the game anyway)

 

[Levethian]

I don't have a count of how many times shop owners have closed the browsing window while I was browsing, People have become hostile because it tought that I wanted to intimidate them, rather than persuade them, or the fact that I've wasted 25k on a house I didn't want because the interface blows.

Truth to this, I've done things I didn't mean to a few times and closed the UI unintentionally many times. Thank goodness for autosaves.

 

[ThisJustin]

I don't get the complaints either. Like someone said before if you get used to the idea of using the keys instead of the mouse, it work fine. I actually find that it I move through the menus very fast and fluid. So call me crazy, but it works great for me. Also, the look of the menus is good IMO. Every item detailed, the transparency allows me to see my character and what I'm equipping. The favorite allow me quick access and I can assign my ultra-favs to the # keys. I think it's all very over blown, and shows some peoples stubbornness to adjust to an interface. "but I shouldn't have to adjust" you say, that's just being hard headed. Like the mouse keys controlling the opposite hand, just go in the controls and switch it. I did in the first few minutes of play. All I hear is "I don't like all this streamlining of games" and then they turn around and say "why doesn't this game intuitively play how I'm personally comfortable with". Oh well, I guess because the keys work better than the mouse in conversations and menus that makes this a console port, and complete shit, instead people just being a little lazy. Not everything's perfect, and nothing ever will be.

 

[ThisJustin]

I don't have a count of how many times shop owners have closed the browsing window while I was browsing, People have become hostile because it tought that I wanted to intimidate them, rather than persuade them, or the fact that I've wasted 25k on a house I didn't want because the interface blows.

Truth to this, I've done things I didn't mean to a few times and closed the UI unintentionally many times. Thank goodness for autosaves.

Use the keys and not the mouse and you won't have any problems. It works faster too.

 

[Weslebear]

hmm.. people are complaining about this? i find the new menus very intuitive and user friendly.

Same, until I came on here I hadn't heard of any hate for the UI at all and I know a fair number of people playing the game.

I play on PC and I haven't noticed anything annoying yet.

 

[Ace of Spades]

I'm playing on the PC with an Xbox controller, and the menu occasionally doesn't register when I move the control stick left or right to access a menu, which does a pretty thorough job of breaking the flow when I want to drink a potion during a fight with a dragon.

 

[ThisJustin]

I'm playing on the PC with an Xbox controller, and the menu occasionally doesn't register when I move the control stick left or right to access a menu, which does a pretty thorough job of breaking the flow when I want to drink a potion during a fight with a dragon.

Favorite your potions, it will be real quick and easy then.

 

[Irridium]

Considering the menu is where you spend a huge chunk of your time in, it damn well better be good. It makes simple tasks needlessly obtuse, like comparing armor/weapon stats, and hides useful information from you.

Tell me, why the fuck do I have to find out from NPC's that I suffer from a disease that makes you're bones brittle?

It's just designed more for style than functionality, which is a shitty way to design a user interface. There's also the fact that it likes to freeze up most of the time you bring it up, which is just annoying as hell.

The UI is just annoying as hell to use. Which is something a UI should NOT be. And don't even get me started on trying to select a perk from the finicky-as-hell skill menu.

And I'm playing on the 360, I can't imagine what it's like on the PC.

Also, this. This so damn hard.

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.

Why care about Skyrim's menu?
Because It makes the game very troublesome to play and hard to navigate, "duuh!"

I really love this weird argument. It shows many of the "Skyrim's target players" are lack of common sense, lack of experience and lack of empathy.
This may be their first (or almost first) game, therefore they will expect everything the game gives.

However, this is not our first game, some of us played every elder scrolls games on PC, and get used on what kind of UI can be handful on cRPGs.

Let me give an example about why we should care Skyrim's menus.
In the combat, I need to drink a potion. For this, I need to open the compass, go to items, select potions, scroll down and look to every item on the list to find the correct one.
After that I need to cast a different spell, may be a frost rune? OK, Open the compass again, go to magic, select proper school, and find your spell under a text list. Select the spell, close the menu, cast the spell. Then I need to use my bow. What should I do? Open the compass, go to items, select weapons, equip bow, equip arrow. Close the menu again, back to combat. If you need to melee again, you need to follow these steps again.

You see, it is time wasting, tiresome, boring and useless menu system for us.
You can say "you still can cast spells, so it is not problem",
Then I ask you, you will still walk with a torn, ripped sneakers, but will it be comfortable and enjoyable?
That is the problem.

Let me describe how can a "good interface" be:

before:
http://i.imgur.com/CahCf.jpg

after:
http://i.imgur.com/4NgHv.jpg

If you tell "why should I care about your problems on the menu?"
then, this is a sign of lack of empathy.

 

[Kirtap]

The people doesn't want to dread every time they want to talk to someone or change your weapon
thats the people who cares

 

[Elsarild]

I don't have a count of how many times shop owners have closed the browsing window while I was browsing, People have become hostile because it tought that I wanted to intimidate them, rather than persuade them, or the fact that I've wasted 25k on a house I didn't want because the interface blows.

Truth to this, I've done things I didn't mean to a few times and closed the UI unintentionally many times. Thank goodness for autosaves.

Use the keys and not the mouse and you won't have any problems. It works faster too.

I do that, most of the time, but it still screws up if the mouse is positioned poorly.

 

[ThisJustin]

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.

Why care about Skyrim's menu?
Because It makes the game very troublesome to play and hard to navigate, "duuh!"

I really love this weird argument. It shows many of the "Skyrim's target players" are lack of common sense, lack of experience and lack of empathy.
This may be their first (or almost first) game, therefore they will expect everything the game gives.

However, this is not our first game, some of us played every elder scrolls games on PC, and get used on what kind of UI can be handful on cRPGs.

Let me give an example about why we should care Skyrim's menus.
In the combat, I need to drink a potion. For this, I need to open the compass, go to items, select potions, scroll down and look to every item on the list to find the correct one.
After that I need to cast a different spell, may be a frost rune? OK, Open the compass again, go to magic, select proper school, and find your spell under a text list. Select the spell, close the menu, cast the spell. Then I need to use my bow. What should I do? Open the compass, go to items, select weapons, equip bow, equip arrow. Close the menu again, back to combat. If you need to melee again, you need to follow these steps again.

You see, it is time wasting, tiresome, boring and useless menu system for us.
You can say "you still can cast spells, so it is not problem",
Then I ask you, you will still walk with a torn, ripped sneakers, but will it be comfortable and enjoyable?
That is the problem.

Let me describe how can a "good interface" be:

before:
http://i.imgur.com/CahCf.jpg

after:
http://i.imgur.com/4NgHv.jpg

If you tell "why should I care about your problems on the menu?"
then, this is a sign of lack of empathy.

Or, you could (on PC) hit the "i" key and be right in the inventory, and while there maybe favorite your bow or potion or any item or magic you want. The next time you need it use the one button favorite menu and there they are. Also on the PC you can assign a # key in the favorites menu so then it's even faster. There's also keys for quick map, magic and skills. no compass needed. I do care that's why I want people to know the better, easier way. I like the accusation though, that since the menu works fast and fluid for me, I must be inexperienced or playing my first game. I've actually been playing since Arena. Maybe with a little experience you'll know how to work your game. Sorry if don't want to go back to the Morrowind menus. Hmm... between doing a key click, using the mouse to find what I need, and another key click or few key clicks and no mouse. I'll choose the latter, it's faster for me at least.

 

[ThisJustin]

I feel like one of those pro Starcraft players with how I use keys to move through menus and conversations. Not really , but that's the gist how quick I've been able to use them.

 

[Epona]

I can't believe that people are saying "It's ok as long as you accept that you don't use the mouse"! Really, people are supposed to unlearn mouse usage on a PC? For this one badly designed UI?

Talk about apologists.