Perks screen: "Worst screen in the history of UIs" : V

» Sun May 13, 2012 1:25 pm

That header is not hyperbole. I think that Skyrim has genuinely managed to lay claim to the title of "worst interface element ever made." It comes in the form of the skills menu, used primarily for leveling up. It violates almost every single rule about designing user interfaces, and it does so for only one reason - to show off a pretty picture.

I honestly do not know who designed this portion of the interface, but it has so many elementary problems that I have trouble understanding how it even made it into the game - surely, somewhere, someone must have said "you know, this doesn't really work well"? And yet they didn't - it's in the game, and players have to suffer through it.

More at http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/EricSchwarz/20111114/8890/User_Interface_anolysis_Skyrim.php

» Sun May 13, 2012 5:55 am

Yeah, the perk screen is absolutely horrible. Having to scroll through them sideways, one by one, and then try to navigate the clunky nodes is a headache every time.

» Sun May 13, 2012 1:52 pm

It's a direct console port, what did people expect? (The menu that is)

» Sun May 13, 2012 9:21 am

Yeah, trees should not be right next to each other, even though they take much more space than just one line, and it would be nice to see what actual perks you've picked. :bonk:

And trees that look like trees! They've obviously went for looks rather than usage!

Seriously, do they actually go into anything specific?

» Sun May 13, 2012 10:36 am

Of course it's "[censored]"... It's a [censored] "console port".

They dumbed the game down, took out "stats" so the ADD crowd didn't freak out, and then gave us the [censored] worst mother [censored] UI ever made.

If that didn't ice the cake, they then sent us a buggy "console ported" menu controls...

Dude. If you hate the game so much (this is like the 8th post i've seen of you spitting out the same few sentances) then turn it off!

» Sun May 13, 2012 9:27 am

I actually like the Menu's. It's unique and makes it more awesome in the epicness that is Skyrim. It was a pain in the begining but after I figured out how to use them I have no complaints.

» Sun May 13, 2012 5:15 pm

While I love the game I have to agree that trying to navigate that godawful perks menu on the PC is harder than killing the final boss.

» Sun May 13, 2012 12:35 pm

I really like the menu, and I'm playing on PC. Maybe you should go back to Call of Duty, or 1995.

» Sun May 13, 2012 11:35 am

Dude. If you hate the game so much (this is like the 8th post i've seen of you spitting out the same few sentances) then turn it off!

ur mistaking a hatred of the menu for a hatred of the gameplay.

the menu's are designed for consoles. its very clear and its very bad. just grit ur teeth, deal with it, and use it as little as possible.

» Sun May 13, 2012 8:29 am

I love the perks menu, art wise, it's beautiful! But yeah the navigation needs a huge overhaul.

» Sun May 13, 2012 11:22 am

Even I think it's clunky and I'm on ps3.

» Sun May 13, 2012 7:05 am

I like the perks screen....*hides*

» Sun May 13, 2012 12:20 pm

It's a direct console port, what did people expect? (The menu that is)

Just because it should've been expected, doesn't mean it doesn't still svck and shouldn't have been done better.

» Sun May 13, 2012 8:21 am

I love that people are this annoyed over such a small part of the game. There's nothing wrong with the perk menu. Is it really worth coming to the forum to [censored] about this nonsense. It's a freaking menu, and it's functional. I think the menu system is miles ahead of Oblivion. We should be thankful for that. And seriously, before you post a thread [censored]ing about such a pointless topic, maybe talk to someone irl and explain your frustration so they can smack you.

» Sun May 13, 2012 6:57 pm

that isn't the worst part, at least you cant accidentally pick the wrong perk

I did accidentally pay a toll to some bandits because I tried to use the mouse. (stupid, I know, need to use arrow keys instead)

» Sun May 13, 2012 7:46 am

I love that people are this annoyed over such a small part of the game. There's nothing wrong with the perk menu. Is it really worth coming to the forum to [censored] about this nonsense. It's a freaking menu, and it's functional. I think the menu system is miles ahead of Oblivion. We should be thankful for that. And seriously, before you post a thread [censored]ing about such a pointless topic, maybe talk to someone irl and explain your frustration so they can smack you.

If you love that people are so annoyed, then why do you want someone to smack them? Honestly you're contradicting yourself.

» Sun May 13, 2012 2:57 pm

This entire problem would be fixed if they allowed us to scroll through the skills menu with the mouse wheel, IMO.

» Sun May 13, 2012 10:32 am

Eh, stop your weeping. The perks may be somewhat twitchy to navigate, but they're not as bad as all that.

» Sun May 13, 2012 11:34 am

It's a freaking menu, and it's functional. I think the menu system is miles ahead of Oblivion. We should be thankful for that.

its functional... for a console controller. for a keyboard/mouse, there is no way u can call this mess of a ui functional, let alone better than oblivion's. oblivions menu's were the definition of functional. they were by no means pretty, and by no means were they simple, but they worked and they worked well. skyrim's menu cares more about looking pretty than actually working well.

the article in the OP does a great job of explaining why.

» Sun May 13, 2012 2:45 pm

Oh my god the UI is the biggest load of QQ'ing I have ever heard in my life.

Poor babies have to do a little bit of scrolling on a fast moving menu.

Sorry if I -don't- have sympathy for spoiled players.

I find it funny that these "hardcoe" RPG'ers talk about the "ADD console players", but these "hardcoe" players are the first ones who gripe about having to do a little bit of SCROLLING.

This is probably my favorite UI of any game I've ever played.

» Sun May 13, 2012 1:30 pm

Personally, I think all of Skyrims UI is the cleanest and most beautiful UI I have ever seen in a game. Yes, I am playing on PC. No, it doesn't feel like a crappy console port. I don't understand why everyone is complaining about everything, this is literally the best game I have ever played.

» Sun May 13, 2012 6:58 pm

I like the menu system, and trust me it is not the worst UI I have ever seen.
If you guys freak out over this I trust you have never dealt with Fallout 1 and 2's inventory nor Eve online UI.
This is likely a issue made to stir up things and get traffic.

» Sun May 13, 2012 10:42 am

Not a really devoted fan, not a hater.

While it does look good, the UI isnt very user friendly, especially on the PC.

The article is good and hits on many points. There are many points in the UI that can be tweaked to make it much better yet keep the look of it.

Also this from another forum post on this site does too: http://img3.imageshack.us/img3/5679/skyriminterface.jpg

From this thread: http://www.gamesas.com/index.php?/topic/1266556-usage-of-screen-real-estate-in-skyrims-interface/

edit: lol the forums change a certain word to devoted fan instead

» Sun May 13, 2012 11:24 am

I don't mind it that much. Just scroll to the tree you want, zoom in, then click the perk you want. Could be better (specifically navagating branches of each tree with WASD instead of mouseclicking), but I've seen much worse. The rest of the UI makes up for it in my opinion.

» Sun May 13, 2012 6:23 pm

Personally, I think all of Skyrims UI is the cleanest and most beautiful UI I have ever seen in a game. Yes, I am playing on PC. No, it doesn't feel like a crappy console port. I don't understand why everyone is complaining about everything, this is literally the best game I have ever played.

Agreed. It's nice to see other ppl that are so appreciative. Im with you.