I've loved Bethesda games since I first played Morrowind (still the best one).

Looking at the e3 demo awhile back I was struck by the fact that while the dual wielding looks great, it will not be a good experience with a mouse. In Oblivion I ended up setting block to middle mouse, LMB for spells, RMB for my sword.

So much as I prefer mouse and keyboard for first person games, I'm gonna play this on a 360 pad. Menus will probably be better(even though they said they'd deconsolefied them).

Anyone else feel this way?

ps 10 days.10 goddamn days.

I'm actually leaning this way as well. I'll give both control schemes a shot when it comes out, but I do get the feeling that controller will be my preference based on what I've see of the menus and combat. This is all speculation, of course, and I can't wait to find out for sure.

I'll give it a shot, definitely buying pc over console versions in any case.

I'm not! : )

I'll mostly be playing while using my bike trainer so yeah, controller for the most part.

I maaaay try it, but I'll probably stick with keyboard n' mouse.

I don't see what would be wrong with dual-wielding on a mouse. You know you can only block with two-handed weapons and with shields in Skyrim, right? So it's not like when you're dual-wielding, you have to have a button for left, button for right, and a button for blocking. There is no blocking if you dual-wield (or if you're holding any kind of one-handed weapon without a shield). And, of course, magic is now a selectable "weapon" itself that occupies one of your hands, as opposed to an instant-access hotkey ability, so there is no button mapping to that, either.

If it's just the idea that you'll be using LMB for whatever's in your left hand and RMB for whatever's in your right, I don't see anything problematic about that.

I'm not too concerned about the menus since they'll be modded at some point, and they don't actually look like they'll be egregious with a mouse. Just not ideal.

I think you're a little insane but Oblivion's interface was very much directed towards consoles so I wouldn't be surprised if it suddenly switched to that interface when you plug in a controller. The PC version has a different interface in case anyone was wondering though I've yet to see it.

Also I've just remembered, Todd Howard did say they were hoping to integrate mod support into consoles though it won't be available at launch. Pretty dapper either way though.

I've said else where that I'll be trying movement on a controller in my left hand with a mouse for aiming in the other. Two mouse clicks and one trigger should cover everything, although I think it's working off a 'whatever is in your two hands system anyway'

Yes, I like to play stealthy characters and I prefer the analogue stick for that. It's not like I have to do any twitch aiming anyway so a controller will work fine.

@eroticfishcake said:

I think you're a little insane but Oblivion's interface was very much directed towards consoles so I wouldn't be surprised if it suddenly switched to that interface when you plug in a controller. The PC version has a different interface in case anyone was wondering though I've yet to see it.

Also I've just remembered, Todd Howard did say they were hoping to integrate mod support into consoles though it won't be available at launch. Pretty dapper either way though.

Maybe on PS3, but Microsoft would never allow mods. It also depends on enough people in the mod community being interested in testing their mods so they are compatible with consoles, something I don't think many will do as the modder is required to own the console version to do that.

I'm going to give it a go and see which way suits me, but after so many games on my 360 I'm sure I'll end up using the 360 pad over the mouse oh and yes 10 days!

I'm going to try both, but I'm intrigued by the idea of using a 360 controller for this

I hope there's a mouse in this game so you can all STAB IT IN THE BACK.

I was actually thinking about doing the same. I've always felt the analogue nature of the controller feels more natural, even if it is less accurate. Sometimes when I'm playing FPS games on the PC I feel like I'm controlling some sort of robot (maybe it's just all that time playing mechwarrior 3 in my youth :/ haha)

@Cloudenvy said:

I'm not! : )

What he said.

Yup, if only because I just recently got a wired 360 controller to replace my old wireless, and so the novelty of using it on the PC is still fresh for me.

... I am VERY easily amused by these sorts of things. Also, it tickles me to imagine the elitists' faces as I perpetrate such a travesty.

Yes. The game has obviously been developed with a 360 controller in mind. As long as I'm able to manage my inventory with Keyboard and Mouse, then I'm all good.

This is something that I have started to do more and more. For over 3 years I didn't have a computer good enough to play anything on, so the 360 was my main gaming device. I got really used to just laying back on the couch and relaxing while playing games on a bigger screen and there is something more simple about using a controller. It allowed for longer less painful (on the back mostly) gaming runs.

Now that I have a fairly beefy PC and a larger monitor (2 of them!) I haven't touched the 360 outside of anything exclusive to the console. I have found that anything outside of a FPS I still enjoy using a 360 controller and relaxing in the chair. I have adjusted around my desk as much as I can, but still find hovering over my keyboard and mouse for long period of time uncomfortable.

If it supports it I will be playing all 200+ hours of Skyrim with a controller.

I know it will sound like blasphemy to many of you, but I can't go back to keyboard and mouse for any game with the exception of very fast paced first person shooters like Hard Reset. One reason : analog control for character movement. I just hate being limited to a toggle between run and walk.

I'll probably try it, at the very least. Whichever style fells better to me, that's the control scheme I go with.

@thornie said:

As long as I'm able to manage my inventory with Keyboard and Mouse, then I'm all good.

I also agree with this statement.

Me! I hate using a mouse and keyboard. I wish there was a safe way to buy PC software because it's way too common to end up with something that has little to no controller support. Even games that are multiplatform and should have perfect controller support (BFBC2) can end up with nothing. Borderlands was a shock. Bought that not expecting much and loved playing that with a controller on the pc. Deus Ex HR has awesome controller support, even changes all the prompts and interface controls in the game to reflect the 360 controller buttons.

BF3 has some controller support but it needs to be much better before I'd recommend purchasing it on the pc. The sprint is a hold function button, it should be toggle as it is on the consoles, but it seems they just slapped the controls for the pc controllers on and shipped it without testing. It may be something you can edit manually but so far I've not figured out how. FoV is also an issue but I think I've discovered something that can fix that.

Hell no!

I only prefer the pad for racing games (which I rarely play) or character action games (like bayonetta, dark souls, stuff like that) but those rarely even make it to the pc.

@SlashDance said:

I know it will sound like blasphemy to many of you, but I can't go back to keyboard and mouse for any game with the exception of very fast paced first person shooters like Hard Reset. One reason : analog control for character movement. I just hate being limited to a toggle between run and walk.

I'm the opposite in that I don't find that to be very valuable, but I find the smooth vision panning provided by the mouse to be indispensable to my enjoyment even when accuracy isn't needed. Looking around and looking at things with a mouse is the only thing that feels as natural as panning my eyes and head around to look at things (minus the peripheral vision), and I absolutely need that.

Could be good. Will give it a try at the least.

Bought a wired controller in the summer and had good results with Deus Ex: HR and NFS: Hot Pursuit. Its nice to lean back in my seat for long sessions.

Deus Ex HR had very robust support for switching back and forth between M/KB and controller on the fly, hopefully Skyrim will offer similar support.

like the witcher 2 im sure skyrim will play better with a 360 pad. nice to have the option of both though

I'll try it.

Noooo way, Morrowind got me into PC RPGs in the first place. It's gotta be pure as hell for me when it comes to Elder Scrolls.

Gonna try it. Since I got my nice Razer ONZA I am leaning more and more toward that.

Hahaha, NOPE.

1. first person
2. lots of menus
3. mouse

Graphics maxed out, cool mods and playing from a comfortable position of my own choosing: The best of both worlds, of course Im with you!

@ShaggE said:

Yup, if only because I just recently got a wired 360 controller to replace my old wireless, and so the novelty of using it on the PC is still fresh for me.

... I am VERY easily amused by these sorts of things. Also, it tickles me to imagine the elitists' faces as I perpetrate such a travesty.

I share your sentiment as well, and dont tell anyone, but Im playing Stronghold 3 with xpadder and the 360 controller :)

Might give it a try but I'll probably end up using the keyboard/mouse anyway. 

Nah. I'm a bow & arrow guy, and leading targets is probably much easier with a mouse. Also, I think it will feel wrong with a controller, considering I've been playing all the TES and Fallout games with a keyboard and mouse.

I hope there's a mouse in this game so you can all STAB IT IN THE BACK.

Well Your choice of controller is your opinion... at least your playing the best version...

@EdIsCool: I'm with you good sir!

I always prefer a 360 pad to M+K for just about any non competitive game on the PC (RTS the exception of course) Playing Skyrim on my PC on my big screen TV and a 360 Pad, it will be epic, can't wait!

@SlashDance said:

I know it will sound like blasphemy to many of you, but I can't go back to keyboard and mouse for any game with the exception of very fast paced first person shooters like Hard Reset. One reason : analog control for character movement. I just hate being limited to a toggle between run and walk.

I also fully agree with this above statement.

I love the way Oblivion controlled with a controller, but for Fallout 3 I preferred mouse an keyboard. I will probably try it with a controller but I think I will prefer mouse and keyboard.

More buttons are more buttons. Give me a keyboard mouse setup for 200 Alex

I'll give the 360 pad a go, and if it's okay, I'll route the picture through the projector for 300 inches of full HD glory; Skyrim style.

@gike987 said:

Yes, I like to play stealthy characters and I prefer the analogue stick for that. It's not like I have to do any twitch aiming anyway so a controller will work fine.

@eroticfishcake said:

I think you're a little insane but Oblivion's interface was very much directed towards consoles so I wouldn't be surprised if it suddenly switched to that interface when you plug in a controller. The PC version has a different interface in case anyone was wondering though I've yet to see it.

Also I've just remembered, Todd Howard did say they were hoping to integrate mod support into consoles though it won't be available at launch. Pretty dapper either way though.

Maybe on PS3, but Microsoft would never allow mods. It also depends on enough people in the mod community being interested in testing their mods so they are compatible with consoles, something I don't think many will do as the modder is required to own the console version to do that.

Microsoft didn't allow mods with Oblivion, but that was back when the 360 first launched. The console has changed dramatically since then, with a huge emphasis on download titles, user created indie games, DLC and soon F2P titles. I definitely wouldn't rule mods out, MS themselves have talked about the possibility. There would definitely be a tighter control over them, but I could definitely see the bigger, fan favourites making their way over.

As for the original question.. Yeah, I'll be using my 360 pad on the PC version.

This is definitely how I'm going to play it.

@gike987 said:

Yes, I like to play stealthy characters and I prefer the analogue stick for that. It's not like I have to do any twitch aiming anyway so a controller will work fine.

@eroticfishcake said:

I think you're a little insane but Oblivion's interface was very much directed towards consoles so I wouldn't be surprised if it suddenly switched to that interface when you plug in a controller. The PC version has a different interface in case anyone was wondering though I've yet to see it.

Also I've just remembered, Todd Howard did say they were hoping to integrate mod support into consoles though it won't be available at launch. Pretty dapper either way though.

Maybe on PS3, but Microsoft would never allow mods. It also depends on enough people in the mod community being interested in testing their mods so they are compatible with consoles, something I don't think many will do as the modder is required to own the console version to do that.

Microsoft didn't allow mods with Oblivion, but that was back when the 360 first launched. The console has changed dramatically since then, with a huge emphasis on download titles, user created indie games, DLC and soon F2P titles. I definitely wouldn't rule mods out, MS themselves have talked about the possibility. There would definitely be a tighter control over them, but I could definitely see the bigger, fan favourites making their way over.

As for the original question.. Yeah, I'll be using my 360 pad on the PC version.

The xbox version wont have mods, no chance in hell either Microsoft or Bethesda would go through the hassle.

Last 360 controller I bought was on sale with a wireless receiver for PC, one of the best purchases I've ever made.

Still generally stick with a mouse and keyboard for FPS games though. It's nice to have options.

@CoverlessTech said:

I'll mostly be playing while using my bike trainer so yeah, controller for the most part.

Misread that as "playing using my bike trainer" That would be awesome.

I'll probably try both out but I can see myself sticking with M&KB.

No, because I feel playing games on the PC  one of the things that makes it a staunchly different experience for me is using the mouse and keyboard.   I want the full on PC experience.

keyboard and mouse all the way.