Camera settings need more control options and fixes
When playing on lots with multiple floors, the camera automatically changes its floor level based on the camera position/center point rather than the player's intended view. I have a house where this happens in the middle of the room too. The camera movement becomes unpredictable because the game changes the active floor automatically instead of allowing the player to maintain control. Regardless of whether automatic floor switching is intentional, players need an option to disable it because the current behavior reduces camera control.
This is not simply a preference issue. The current camera system forces players to choose between different behaviors, none of which provide complete control. This behavior causes a reproducible usability problem.
Furthermore, the camera has a zoom-in limitation. It feels like there is an invisible sphere around the center of the screen that prevents the camera from moving closer. This makes it difficult to place small objects in Build Mode when they are on the ground. The smaller the object, the more noticeable the problem becomes. The limited zoom distance also causes unnecessary eye strain because players cannot move the camera close enough to clearly inspect details. This is especially problematic for players with vision impairments, but it also affects anyone trying to precisely inspect small objects.
When pressing Tab, the game provides a camera with additional controls and fewer movement restrictions. The camera can be lowered to the ground, rotated freely, and zoomed in far enough to see pixels. It also provides additional height controls using Q and E, which are not available in the normal camera. However, this mode hides the interface and is therefore mainly useful for screenshots or video recording, not Build Mode or regular gameplay. The normal camera should offer those controls instead of forcing players into an either/or situation.
The current behavior also affects immersion and usability because changing camera behavior can affect the relationship between floor level, camera position, and audio positioning. Changing camera settings in the INI file can reduce the automatic jumping but introduces other problems, such as the camera no longer properly matching the active floor and sound positioning becoming inconsistent unless we tether the camera to a Sim. This only partially reduces the original issue while introducing additional problems, so it is not a complete solution.
Players should not have to manually edit a configuration file to obtain predictable camera controls. Basic camera behavior should be adjustable through in-game settings rather than requiring changes to files inside the game installation directory. The current in-game camera settings do not address any of the issues described above. Additionally, these manual changes can be overwritten by game updates unless the file is protected from being modified.
Keep the sound tethered to the current lot level but completely disable automatic floor switching. Increase the maximum zoom-in distance in Play Mode and Build Mode. And keep focus on a Sim even when pressing Tab for the camera without the interface for recording purposes.
This would greatly improve the game on multiple levels. Pun intended.
