User interface - TTLG Forums

Kuuso on 18/11/2011 at 10:53

I like how they have tried to minimize data shown on screen. I think it's a great push for immersion. It's good that bars only show when they're being depleted or filled, but I find it a huge blunder that there's no indication of active effects on screen. I don't want to pause every time I think my fire resist potion is running out makes some fights a constant pause-fest.

Stitch on 18/11/2011 at 15:58

I love this game more than my mother loves me and even I find the user interface to be a complete wreck.

(my mother really loves me)

Avalon on 19/11/2011 at 06:53

I facepalmed when I read the interview way back when that Bethesda took inspiration from the Apple iPod interface for Skyrim.

The iPod works this way because it is a mobile device with only a little spinny dial to interact with that interface. Some of them have touchscreens. That interface is fantastic in context of a tiny mp3 players.

Even a console controller gives you more tools to work with than an mp3 player. It's a poor inspiration for any UI unless you're making an mp3 player. Unfortunately a lot of developers really love the iPod for whatever damn reason. It makes me think of that Family Guy episode where they had the apple computer that had the impractical spinny dial to do all of your computing with.

The only thing that has really bugged the shit out of me with this game (other than constant dragon spawning when I'm trying to do something else) is the UI. Almost everything that annoys me boils down to the shitty UI. But a lot of the bugs in general in this game make me wonder if they ran it through a QA team at all - so much of this game would've only taken one run by a single QA guy to get a bug report, and surely the whole team playing on either console or PC would have said "JESUS CHRIST THIS INTERFACE IS LIKE LIVING WITH RECTAL CANCER."

PigLick on 19/11/2011 at 07:17

there also doesnt seem to be a breath meter when you are underwater.

Ulukai on 19/11/2011 at 09:52

^ Yeah, haven't gone any major swimming expeditions yet, (just a quick dip) was assuming you got one once you started to run out of air ...but you don't get one at all?

Anyone who's drowned themselves care to clarify?

Al_B on 19/11/2011 at 09:58

Quote Posted by Avalon

It makes me think of that Family Guy episode where they had the apple computer that had the impractical spinny dial to do all of your computing with.

Are you possibly thinking of the Onion's coverage of the Macbook Wheel?

<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9BnLbv6QYcA?version=3&hl=en_GB" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="420" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed>

Ostriig on 20/11/2011 at 00:20

Quote Posted by Ulukai

^ Yeah, haven't gone any major swimming expeditions yet, (just a quick dip) was assuming you got one once you started to run out of air ...but you don't get one at all?

Nope. You swim around for a bit with no UI element whatsoever, and when you start running out of air your health bar starts taking the hit. Can't say it bothers me like that, the HP decrease is not so fast that you're likely to have trouble making it back up to the surface.

Painman on 20/11/2011 at 08:18

Quote Posted by Koki

The defining characteristic of a good UI is that you won't be able to name any good games with it because you don't notice good UI

Koki scores.

Anywho, (http://i.imgur.com/GKuzW.jpg) this is still conceptual, but Skyrim's UI is Flash-based. Meaning that there is all kinds of Possible as far as modding it - and folks are hard at work already.

Cardia on 24/11/2011 at 23:05

can anyone tell me is it is possible to change weapons without needing to acess menu, it would come in handy to have a quick slot bar, everytime i want to switch the bow to the sword i have to do it via the inventory menu :p

this game has auto-detected my system and has set the game to high quality, although sometimes during my explorations the games freezes about 1 or 3 seconds, is this normal?
is there a way to avoid this?

another question, is it really important to pick up herbs or to use the alchemy laboratoy? can i progress in the game only with swords and bows ? i´m not in the mood for magic spells or to do alchemy potions. I´m playing on "novice" difficult, its almost as god mode :D...let´s just say i´m playing as a turist :)

Renzatic on 24/11/2011 at 23:30

Quote Posted by cardia1

I've been playing the game with my 360 controller (I'm a bastard sellout), so I'm not sure of any hotkeys. But, you do have your your favorites menu. It's still a menu, but...well...your favorite stuff is in there for easier access.

Not quite as good as a hotkey, but not nearly as bad as having to go through the interface each time you want to swap something.

Quote:

this game has auto-detected my system and has set the game to high quality, although sometimes during my explorations the games freezes about 1 or 3 seconds, is this normal?
is there a way to avoid this?

I've played around with a few ini tweaks here and there, including one that supposedly allows the game access to more memory. Nothing's worked so far. It still occasionally freezes for a few seconds here and there.

Quote:

another question, is it really important to pick up herbs or to use the alchemy laboratoy? can i progress in the game only with swords and bows ? i´m not in the mood for magic spells or to do alchemy potions. I´m playing on "novice" difficult, its almost as god mode :D...let´s just say i´m playing as a turist :)

I'm playing it on expert, and I find myself needing to mix my herbs and spice together to get heal juice, paralyze poultices, elemental buffs, and stamina potions on a regular basis. It's like The Witcher 2 in that regard, specially since I'm otherwise disregarding any form of magic. Because magic is for wieners.

But on novice? Eh. I think you can just go in and smack stuff around. Maybe run away if things get a little too hairy. Try it out, and see how it goes. But collect ingredients anyway...just in case.