I have a question that probably you dont know an answer to but I`ll ask it anyway or someone knows the answer.

Can you cast fireballs, heals etc only with you hands like in skyrim, oblivion, or you can only cast fireballs with Staffs as main attack?

So If I dont want to use staff or any other weapon and I want to be pure mage I wont be able to do basic damage to enemies?

im not sure, but if you watch the gameplay youtube video that they released at quake con, then you can see that during one of the battles he seems to cast spells with his left hand without a weapon being equipped. i cant really tell but it seems he put the weapon away to actually cast the spell, so it would seem you cast empty handed as a necessity..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWXjzLEGV9U

from 11 minutes onwards

Based on what we've seen and heard, I'd say you can cast any class/race/whatever-based spell no matter what weapon you're using. So for instance, a sorcerer's thunderbolt or templar's heal can be cast empty-handed, with a greatsword, with a staff, whatever.

I'm guessing that any spells in the staff skill lines will require you use that actual staff, though. So it all depends on what specific spell you want to cast, I guess.

I love casting spells with my hands, makes it seem realistic, and immersive.

bare in mind that in skyrim you have to cast empty handed unless the spell was actually enchanted onto the weapon. So by this you should have to unequip your weapon in order to do a spell and equip again to carry on melee/archer unless your main weapon is an enchanted staff.

(i think im right in that, please correct me if i am wrong).

It depends on the skill line, Most class spells lines use your hands regardless of the weapons you have equipped. If the spell is from a weapon line, you will generally see that weapon casuing the effect

Spells will be hotbar bases rather than equiped to hands. The animation will be similar to oblivions where it will be cast without having to unequip whatver was in the hands previously

yeah so I will just be pressing 1 on keyboard to cast my fireball with hands.

btw, I am worried I (and all sorcerers) will have to play with staff, you like it or not.