I honestly hate the new HUD. For starters, I don't like the compass being on the top of the screen, but with those massive health/mana/stamina bars on bottom there'd be nowhere else to put it. Speaking of which, when I first heard that the interface would fade away when it wasn't needed I thought, oh, that's cool, but now that I've seen it in action it seems really annoying. Maybe that's because everything is so big and just doesn't at all really fit the whole rugged Skyrim theme. Also, can't forget the big ass text popping up every time you level up or find a new location or whatever. 
 
Not at all crazy about the menus, either. Here's a video clip of them from the G4 demo, slowed down:
 

Get PC version, get mods, change the size, ????. profit. 
 
But yeah I agree.  I would have liked a normal HUD, but nothing will stop me from molesting this game.

I really like the sleek design of the menus. I think they look really nice and will hopefully make everything easy to manage.
 
As for the HUD i'm using a more wait and see approach. I'll play it and see how I feel, as of right now it could go either way.

It looks good to me, except for the compass being at the top, with you on that.  And a little weary about the map.  I think its cool to see everything and all, probably helps navigating, but i kinda like a plain old map.

I just assumed that was a placeholder HUD.

I use a mod on the PC version of oblivion that makes the bars fade away. It's only annoying for a minute or two before you get used to it and after that it's much better because it makes the screen less cluttered.
The only thing I dislike is the map, I much prefer a 2d map.

Looks absolutely fantastic so far. Aesthetically, it's a perfect blend of stylish, sleek, functional, and still has a few winks and nods to the fantasy theme of the game. 
 
Derailing this off the topic of Oblivion for a second... Kingdoms of Amalur looks great, but THAT game needs a new UI. Suppose the game is still far off, and (this applies to Skyrim as well) I know that UI is something that constantly changes throughout development. 

I love the look of the new UI, looks a lot more streamlined and manageable than Oblivion's (which was only tameable with BTMod). That said, I can see how it might be less quick and efficient and would have to actually play the game and use it to pass further judgment. As for the compass, I don't really care where it is, top of the screen looked fine to me. And I'm assuming there will be an option for the HUD elements to always be visible even when not in use, so that shouldn't be too much of an issue. 
 
I have to agree that I preferred the plainer map, it did help with immersion. But if you're playing on PC that shouldn't be a problem. Meanwhile I am way to excited for this game to let the UI hinder my enthuiasm.

menus 
shrug 

I think it's great. The 3D map and the constellation menu especially are way cool.

@DillonWerner said:

Get PC version, get mods, change the size, ????. profit. But yeah I agree. I would have liked a normal HUD, but nothing will stop me from molesting this game.

Or just run it at somethign higher than 720 and it'll probably be smaller. The Oblivion stuff was huge at 720 as well, but at 1080+ it was a reasonable size. When you are on a couch (and the 360 version was shown, I believe) you want bigger stuff.

@Hobbies: I do kind of agree with the map, but I still think the map is really cool. I'll probably mod that, but we'll see.

That is so much cleaner that Oblivion and Morrowind's menu interfaces. I think it looks great and I'll be elated if it fixes the problem of menu navigation being downright clunky. Sorry man, not feeling your hate on this one.

Looks great.

I like the constellation skill trees a lot. Don't really see what's wrong with it. The map thing I kind of agree with you on. I'd much rather have a regular old paper map than something that sort of gives away areas before I even visit them.

However, I really hate the menus and especially the font style used for everything. It looks incredibly bland, like placeholder stuff rather than final UI elements. I'm hoping that's actually what it is. I rather liked the inventory/map screen system they had in Oblivion and Fallout, and I see no real reason to change it, apart from fixing a few navigation issues. That stuff is a real shame, because literally everything else about the game looks stellar.

Looks very nice, very streamlined... but very "un-RPG", if you ask me. I don't think it blends so well with the overall aesthetics of the game. But it certainly looks pretty on its own.

It looks horrible. There's no beauty or detail on it that portrays any sense of fantasy or role-playing tones. I fucking FUCKING hate how these developers are simplifying shit for these stupid kids that are plaguing this damned industry.
 
The 3D objects look good, however.

Only thing I don't really like is that the weapon and armor list does not seems very mouse friendly. Definitely built for a gamepad. Overall it seems fine and it has a nice aesthetic, but I'll probably still mod elements of it all the same.

Looks very nice, very streamlined... but very "un-RPG", if you ask me. I don't think it blends so well with the overall aesthetics of the game. But it certainly looks pretty on its own.

And I'm assuming there will be an option for the HUD elements to always be visible even when not in use, so that shouldn't be too much of an issue.

I like the new menus. They seem more modern and sleek. The fade away system is really ingenious, if I have full health/magicka/stamina I don't need the bar on my screen to remind me, but if I have half health then I want the reminder before I take on a dragon.

If I remember correctly, Todd Howard did say that the interface was inspired by Apple products and I can see where the influence is. It looks sharper and slicker then Oblivion was at the cost of appearing less fantasy-like. Overall, I like it but as I keep saying, if they're are problems then you've got mod tools to sort it out.

It looks really good; very clear and easy to navigate quickly.

I like Morrowind where you could set up your ui so everything just got plastered on your screen when you hit whatever key it was. It meantt that you didn't have to navigate any menus.

If I remember correctly, Todd Howard did say that the interface was inspired by Apple products

Mods

Lol. Maybe they should make a game with options to close the compass, change the HUD, change the map and so on. Maybe people will become really happy.

Deus Ex HR has gotten its HUD done right but I'm ready to call this a dumbed down consolized easymode rig and point everybody towards Morrowind.

I really hope you can turn that stupid freaking compass off. I mean, the whole HUD was designed around the important things fading in and out only when you need them (which is really cool), but having that ugly ass compass there all the time is totally the opposite of that? If you're gunna try and make a cinematic experience with no clutter don't change your mind about the compass!  
 
Also, loads of people hate the thing anyways, so I can't imagine they'd leave it untoggleable. Otherwise: mods.  
 
Anyone else think that clairvoyance spell is a bit stupid too?

I really hope you can turn that stupid freaking compass off. I mean, the whole HUD was designed around the important things fading in and out only when you need them (which is really cool), but having that ugly ass compass there all the time is totally the opposite of that? If you're gunna try and make a cinematic experience with no clutter don't change your mind about the compass!   Also, loads of people hate the thing anyways, so I can't imagine they'd leave it untoggleable. Otherwise: mods.   Anyone else think that clairvoyance spell is a bit stupid too?

I'm a little more concerned with the inventory system.  I like being able to see what my character looks like in a piece of armor or clothing before returning to the game proper.  I didn't get that sense from the above video if that's still an option. 
 
@DillonWerner said:

Get PC version, get mods, change the size, ????. profit.  But yeah I agree.  I would have liked a normal HUD, but nothing will stop me from molesting this game.

Looks good, I just hope the PC version gets its own UI this time. Was a bit ridiculous when Oblivion launched.

Hell no. Consoletard UI. Oblivion's was also bad.

Looks modern and sleek,  but i'm not sure i want that kind of feel for this game. If that makes any sense.

I think the interface looks fantastic.

Idk it seems like something you might have to get used to. Never the less I am getting this game even if I have to for some strange reason sell a kidney to get it, and if there's a collectors edition or w.e I am getting that, I did with Oblivion and to me it was worth it, menus, or a HUD doesn't matter to me when it comes to living in a piece of TES. Bring on Skyrim I cannot wait! 

I like the interface as shown. Oblivion's interface worked, but it was a huge hassle. Now, it's hard to make too many judgments based on what they show here, but I think it looks nice and will function well enough.

@somejerk said:

Deus Ex HR has gotten its HUD done right but I'm ready to call this a dumbed down consolized easymode rig and point everybody towards Morrowind.

@phrosnite said:

Hell no. Consoletard UI. Oblivion's was also bad.

Is this still a thing? PC Users assuming anyone that holds a joypad is a cretin or something…

The menus are great including the 3D map, HUD not so much. The 3 big bars at the bottom seem too big and too distracting. Less is more for me w/on screen stuff during gameplay. Bet it'll have options. Also, when on a bigscreen tv it'll seem less obtrusive maybe. The team will probably iterate on this stuff lots before Sept.

I really think its a good design, although I personally found no issues with the Oblivion menu system, which I know alot of people did.

Also what the f happened to the fantasy themed UI in fantasy games?

I'm not sure what to make of it just yet, I feel like I'll have to get my hands on it before I can really say what I think of it. That music though...AMAZING.

I like it.

@phrosnite: That's a good point, it doesn't really fit the theme but I don't think it'll ruin the game, not saying you're saying that though.

Also what the f happened to the fantasy themed UI in fantasy games?

I kind of like it.

I will say this, the world map....AMAZING might be the best world map I've seen in any game, but it's not like I've played EVERY game so I might be wrong, but to me, it's simply AWESOME.

@phrosnite said:

Also what the f happened to the fantasy themed UI in fantasy games?

This.

@bioblood22 said:

I will say this, the world map....AMAZING might be the best world map I've seen in any game, but it's not like I've played EVERY game so I might be wrong, but to me, it's simply AWESOME.

Actually, I was coming to revisit this thread to say the same thing. I love the world map. I don't agree with the op that it will provide spoilers for what is coming up, as the map is pulled back quite far and, from what I saw, most of it was obscured by cloud cover.

Looking up to the stars and building your own constellation as your character progresses is a very cool idea as well, as constellations have played a significant role since the inception of the Elder Scrolls games. I remember wandering around while playing Daggerfall way back in 1996 and being in awe of the night sky, then my awe increased as I recognized the constellations I'd seen during character creation. The system they have in Skyrim gives weight to the fact that your character is so epic, he is forging his own constellation.

I love the way they did the inventory where you can look at the items, even the trivial ones, and inspect them visually.

tl;dr - I like the interface a lot.