TES V: Skyrim Discussion Thread

Same here.

My favourite thing to do it shout at perfectly laid dinner tables and watch the physics work.

Pure genius.

 

I didn't mind the PC controls too much to be honest, they were a little clunky at first but I did get used to them. Today, however, my wireless Xbox 360 controller for PC arrived and I've been using that, and it definitely feels a lot more intuitive and adds to the immersion factor. I would highly suggest a controller for Skyrim on the PC to anyone who has the means.

Also, I've heard a lot of complaints about the visuals, however I've never been excited for a Bethesda game based on graphics; it's always about the gameplay for me. I've added a couple tweaks to the .ini file and it made an already beautiful experience that much better, so I'm quite happy.

Anyway, back to Skyrim!

 

I dunno, I kind of like the strange new UI skyrim's using. I can control everything really fast just with my left hand around the left region of my keyboard, rather than clicking all over the place with the mouse cursor back in Oblivion.

 

Anyone running this on a 280m/285/260m/9800GT or equivalent? My copy has yet to arrive despite me preodering it and I'm just curious to see what settings I can get.

Pretty sure I could max out Oblivion at 1900x1080 so hoping for the same here (minus AA which, at that res I feel isn't always necessary).

 

I also have no complaints about the control. I wonder how many people are making use of the favourites quick access menu though. I store all frequently used weapons or spells and can switch to any very quickly by pressing up on the Dpad. Want to quickly heal, hit up and then the L or R trigger, then quickly switch to fire and then back to a shield and sword.

 

The quick access is good, but I would have preferred to be able to set potions / weapons to hot keys so I could switch without going thru any menus.

 

You can, once their in the favourite menu bring it up and press the relevant key you want 1,2,3 etc, they have to be in the favourite menu first tho.

 

sweet. didn't realize that. thank you,.

 

I have actually been wondering this myself. I am sure my 9800m GTS can handle the game, but I just want to know to what degree. I haven't ordered the game yet, but still curious none-the-less.

 

IMO, if you're a PC gamer and don't own a 360 controller you're really shooting yourself in the nuts because more and more games are being developed with the controller in mind. I have a feeling in the future all games will be tailored with that in mind

 

With 280/285M you can play Skyrim on "high" settings. You cannot max the settings out with that GPU. Not shure if you can play "high" with 1080p though

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:System_Requirements

Medium settings for you

 

Thanks! My copy arrived this morning and yeah, I'm rocking High at 1920x1080 and it runs at 30FPS outside and 60FPS in some dungeons with my laptop.

Tried to disable V-sync by adding a line in the .ini as suggested but no luck. FPS occasionally drops to 26 when in busy towns and disabling V-sync would likely fix that.

 

But if you're a true PC gamer you'll adjust the config to tailor to your mouse-and-keyboard approach... I see no need for controllers on a PC, unless we're talkin mario kart on project64!!

 

This guide explains it well and mentions other things I didn't know concerning hot keys.

 

I tried using one for RAGE, and it worked well, but I started getting cramps in my hands after about 20 minutes. I haven't used a controller for about 20 or 30 years, since 8-bit NES, so perhaps I simply don't have the hand muscles for it.

I game on my sofa, so I've never been into using a keyboard. I used to use a microsoft wireless numpad but recently upgraded to this nostromo device for my left hand, which seems to work very well for Skyrim's UI, as well as every other game I've tried, without causing cramps. I use a trackball mouse in my right hand.

 

Controller with a role playing game when you have the option to use mouse and keyboard? Seriously?

Sounds like a comfy setup you have there moviemarketing

 

Man this game is awesome so far. Been trying to get this one mission done and have not gotten it finish due to me finding hidden treasures and tunnels to explore. Also, why does everyone in this world is trying to kill you, can I just take a calm stroll in the woods without being attack, lol.

But yea been playing everything on high and have been using my 360 controller which has been fun. The game runs smooth and it is often at times creepy for me which I like.

 

I have been playing with they keyboard/mouse and my 360 controller. Only thing I think works better with the controller is the menus. I can't aim the bow with the controller at all, I need my mouse.

 

I find it more challenging using a controller, make it a little more fun.

 

No such thing as Medium settings on my 9800m GTS!

Running the game @720p on my HDTV with Maxed settings and-up scaled shadows from Ultra (by modifying .cfg in Skyrim folder), 4x AA, 16xAF and all the extra options turned on.

Game runs @35fps average in outer areas, and slightly lower in the underground area at the beginning of the game.

Overall the game looks amazing and plays very smooth, will be uploading a video to Youtube shortly

 

Playing with everything max out on ultra high setting with FXAA and Object Fade off and it look decent.

I still don't think it look better than Dragon Age: Origin and New Vegas, and it nothing compare to Witcher 2 graphics.

Imagine if this game had Witcher 2 graphics?

I will take some screenshot when I get back home. Sometime your eye can play trick on you but I feel like New Vegas look a whole lot better, maybe not as detailed but just better graphics in general.

 

That would suck. If that happens most of us playing Skyrim on our laptops will get single-digit framerates.

 

Oh I apologize, but if you have a good gaming laptop, Witcher 2 graphics are off the chart

They should have a DX9 and DX11 for low end and high end user. Would have happen if this game wasn't made for console.

 

If it wasn't made for console, they'd lose about 70~80% of their current profit from game sales. The huge success of TES series has been due to the attention paid for consoles back when they made Oblivion, without it Skyrim might not even exist.

Yeah yeah consoles hold back graphics; but game developers have a business to take care of.

 

Consoles are AWESOME if it wasn't for consoles we wouldn't have fury speedy characters like Sonic, or Italian Plumbers who save princess from Reptiles and do Shrooms. Or Bad Asses like the Commandos named Bill "Mad Dog" Rizer and Lance "Scorpion" Bean. Or even Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start. Don't you Forget it!

 

This game is full of surprises and it seems there are endless things to do. I find completing quests a challenge simply because of what happens on the way to a location. I stole a horse on the way back from a quest and got chased across the map by two guards, there was a bounty on my head but I decided to fight. One was a heavily armored guard and the other was a mage, it was a very tough fight.

Later I was attacked by giant spiders but before I had even drawn my sword, a Mammoth killed all three spiders. After I breathed a sigh of relief the giant that usually accompany the Walrus knocked me into the sky to my death!

I also saw people killing giants and then complain that I didn't help, the list just goes on, great stuff.

 

If it weren't for consoles, I probably wouldn't be able to run BF3 on a $600 laptop that's over a year old. I'm happy.

 

I understand what you are saying, and while I can't related, I am happy for you nonetheless.

However, Skyrim graphic is in my opinion the worst graphic game of this year, and that is pretty sad.

 

I wonder what the numbers are for console vs PC copies have been sold of oblivion/skyrim

 

On the other hand, if it weren't for consoles, perhaps GPU technology and graphical optimisation and development may be light years ahead. We might have laptops with better Nm shrink technology with powerful GPU's because hardware manufacturers and developers actually had a reason to make them a lot better to stay competitive and in business.

 

Hello, everyone!

I'm wondering whether to purchase Skyrim for my Xbox 360 or Alienware M15x. Specs for the latter are below.

I know about the PC version's benefits (mods, console, better graphics, etc.) but am wondering if my M15x can top the 360's graphics (running at resolution 1600x900). Is there anyone else here with a 5730m? I've searched around, done performance tests, and all I get are contradictory results.

I also heard about some freezing and texture issues in the 360 version, but am still considering it thanks to its control scheme and the fact that it is permanently connected to my 1080P 46" HDTV.

Finally, are the mouse + keyboard controls good or does the Xbox 360 controller work better? I've heard that the menus and melee combat are better with controller. This will probably end up being the most deciding factor in my purchase--don't have a wireless receiver so I can connect my 360 controller to my M15x.

Thanks!

 

Honestly, I'm not anxious to return to the late 90s/early 2000s where you pretty much had to buy a new, expensive GPU every 6 months or so

The level of detail in BF3 is enough to keep my happy if current games stay that way for several years.

 

My laptop has a 5650 (same chip as 5730, a bit lower clocked), Overclocked I can run Skyrim @ 1080p on all max settings except obj/NPC distance lowered, and still get ~30 fps framerate.

 

Sounds excellent! Thanks for your help. Any input on the controls (no pun intended)?

How much have you overclocked?

 

I think you should buy it for the 360 because the controller feel more intuitive or wait for mods and patches so that you can get a good M&K U.I. Right now it just a port but maybe the next few weeks or months, it will get better.

 

You haven't even played it! Stop it.

I don't know if you know this, but it's really easy to use a 360 controller on a PC.

 

Actually lemme correct myself: I had the shadow quality set on high, not ultra, to get 30+ framerate (40+ indoors). Ultra shadows doesn't improve drastically though so it's not worth the performance hit unless you have a monster laptop.

The control requires a few ini tweaks but is otherwise very likeable and intuitive. You need to turn off console-like mouse acceleration / vsync mouse lag by changing 2 ini values from 1 to 0 but that's it.

As for ingame UI, it takes an hour of play but you get used to it...it's very fluid. Also you can examine each piece of item in your inventory from 360 degrees in full 3D!

I overclocked from 550/800 to 715/1040 Mhz.

 

While a little clunky to begin with, I have adaped to the console-ish menus.
Its not unplayable, I just wish I could use the 80-or-so other buttons on my keyboard for hotkeys.

Mouselook is just so right for this game... why would anyone want to ruin their mouse with a clunky controller? I actually feel sorry for console players. Mouselook = turn around instantly... controllers simulate wading in molasses.

 

I find the mouse and keyboard controls to be fine but I prefer using the Xbox 360 controller. The menus are definitely better with the controller but I think the melee combat comes down to what you are more used to using.

You don't have a wireless receiver but maybe you underestimate the PC's many options. You can get a Xbox 360 Wired Controller to USB Adapter Cable for a few dollars to connect your existing controller. I have never tried that though. Even 1600 x 900 resolution will look better than the console.

 

Yesssss. While playing Skyrim, all that beautiful scenery is keeping my right hand otherwise occupied...

 

I don't want to know what your right hand is doing >_<

Mr. Mysterious

 

All I have to say is OH, my, god.
I've been playing for over 3 hours since I got back home from work and I am VERY impressed by this game.

The graphics, maxed out with higher rez shadows (.cfg tweak) are GORGEOUS! I also applied some other tweaks to improve water reflections etc. The atmosphere is simply amazing, the most immersive first person rpg I have ever had the pleasure of playing.

I have just finished the Golden Claw quest and Wow, that was an amazing experience. Made me feel the sense of adventure more than ever before.

Anyway here is a video I made earlier today before I left for work Skyrim running Maxed on P7805u Laptop - YouTube
showing how amazingly well this game runs on my good ol P7805u

So happy to have bought a wireless 360 controller as well, I am so comfy playing from my couch

 

If you hook it up to a HDTV, you have the best of both world. BTW what sort of tweak did you do?

I only been doing some small tweak and the graphic seem to be slightly better.

BTW does your screen shake when you get hit in combat, it does for mine (after tweaking I think) and its awesome!

 

That depends.

How many other games over the vast environments of Skyrim? Pretty much none. If you build a linear experience, you can make the graphics a lot better. Skyrim is an open world, game it isn't going to have as good graphics.

The tech however for simulating the open world is amazing, it feels like a living breathing world. That tech and experience = time and money.

 

Is it just the angle of the camera, or do you notice a sort of fishbowl effect when you pan left/right?

This is definitely going on my "buy" list, but I just started playing Oblivion and I've also got BF3 to hold me over until it comes down in price. Maybe it'll be on a Christmas sale somewhere.

If you can max it out with a 9800, I don't think my 6950 will have any problems at 1080p

 

Yea you should definitely be able to max it on that card, keep in mind that my 9800 is overclocked to peak and modded through vbios by me personally :_) won't find another 9800 that performs as well as mine

 

Care to share how you improved the shadows via .cfg tweak?

 

Cant wait to get my laptop fixed and play this game. Ok i have a lot of things to do at Uni but i will still find some time 5 min i dont care to play this game. as for other games i just want to play them to say i have seen them except Batman and Assassins Creed.
I just cant wait to see how it will perform on my laptop

 

Turns out getting this game was a mistake. I was sure it would be but I bought it anyway. Thursday, Friday, and last night I was awake and glued to the PC till about 3am and then had the kids waking me up at 6am. Sleep is going to be out of the question it seems for some time to come.

 

Have you guys noticed that when you go into a room with different lighting, it takes a second for the character's eyes to readjust? I thought that was a pretty cool little detail.

Also, am I the only one that thinks this installment is far more difficult than Oblivion?