On Controlers:

:How do you use the bow and arrow? Do you aim with the mouse and
:load an arrow with the left mouse button, then release the left
:button to shoot or does it involve both buttons?Is it a
:completely mouse driven game or oar their keyboard buttons as
:well?

Yes, you aim with the mouse, shoot with the left mouse button (by default). You mouse-down to nock an arrow and start drawing back your shot, and mouse-up to fire.

Using weapons and inventory items defaults to the mouse buttons, and mouse motion defaults to look. Moving around defaults to the arrow keys, number pad keys, or the WASD cluster that System Shock et. al. used. And of course all of those mouse button and key commands are re-bindable to whatever button or key you want.

You're very unlikely to be able to play with the mouse alone, just because there's more things you'll want to commonly do than can really be put on the mouse. E.g. move, use weapons, use inventory or in-world objects, jump, block with your sword... It's enough stuff, really, that I recommend you use a three-button mouse if you can. I really like having shoot, use, and block all on mouse buttons.

On Swordplay:

: What will the
:sword fighting be like in Thief? Will it be like Jedi Knight,
:where you just swing, and it blocks automatically? I'm kinda
:hoping it will be deeper, like different swings and blocks etc.
:Not really complicated, but requiring skill and coordination.

There are three different attacks, a left and right swing and an overhand slash. You select them based on position vs. the enemy and how long you wind up your swing. Blocking is a separate command, and creatures may telegraph their blows.

So, sounds like you'll probably be satisfied with it vs. Jedi Knight, based on your description.

Revisiting Footsteps:

: . . . Will garret be able to walk at just one speed? or will
:there be different modes, like a slower, but extremely quiet
:walk, for sneaking, a normal walk, and maybe a quick, but less
:quiet run for escaping, or darting across doorways, around
:corners etc. Is anything like this in the game?

There's two base movement speeds: the default is a jog, but you can slow that to a creep with a modifier key. Also, you can change to a crouched posture, at which point "creep" is more of a "crawl." There's also a speed potion (fairly rare and expensive, so you can't just run circles around the guards) which lets you _really_ speed along. Sort of a "get out of jail free card."

Your movement speed affects how audible your footsteps are, as does the type of flooring you walk on (e.g. carpet and earth are quiet; wood and stone are audible; metal, tile, and gravel are noisy). There's also a special "moss" flooring type which you can place in the world yourself after gathering earth crystals.

Of Thief Movies, the Official Site, and Going Gold(!):

:Two of the major game magazines have already got their December
:issues out and I dont see any Thief videos. Is the 5 min video
:coming out with the Strategy Plus Gaming magazine? And...... are
:you waiting to UPDATE YOUR OFFICIAL SITE until the game is done?

I'm still not sure which 'zines are going to have our movie, but I'll let you know asap.

Yeh, THIEF is going gold this week, so we are kinda waiting to update the web site until after that. I want to upload lots of new movies soon to give folks a better hint at gameplay.