How on earth does anyone navigate build mode on pc??
So I just switched over from ps4 to pc because my game was lagging so much it was becoming unplayable, and I’ve been blown away with the improvement in loading speed, even with a lot of extra packs. But I’ve also been blown away by how difficult it is to navigate build mode.
I’m not able to rotate the screen while holding an object, if I try it rotates the object I’m holding even if it’s an entire room, and I can’t even scroll down unless I switch to the objects by room menu and even then only if I haven’t used that menu in that session yet. So for example when putting windows on all four sides of a greenhouse I have to place them on one side, press back out (circle) twice to get out of the build menu, click on objects by room so I can scroll down and rotate, then go back into the build screen and re-select the window I want, and then do the whole process two more times. For real? How does anyone do this?
Ive become aware that controllers aren’t supported by the developers ( please fix this asap!!!!) but even so I genuinely can’t figure out how anyone navigates build mode. It’s also really difficult for me to see the edges of higher floors because once I get close to the edge the camera immediately zooms way up or drops down to a lower floor, and I can only scroll up through the two tiny windows of space where there isn’t a menu on the upper screen.. It’s so incredibly frustrating.
I realize there’s a learning curve here, I’ve done what I could to enable steam input and bind the controller based on the template with the most positive feedback in steam, but I’m running out of things to try to make this game playable. It can’t possibly be this difficult for everyone or nobody would buy the game. Can someone please help??
edit: it would also be great if someone could explain to me how to shift my perspective. I only seem to be able to view areas from above, not as if I were level with them.
Why would you use such an inferior device as a controller on PC when you have the much more versatile combo of mouse and keyboard. To rotate the lot right click and drag the mouse left or right. To zoom in/out use the scroll wheel. To change floors use page up/down. To change walls up, cut away or down use Home/End. If you hover over the icons at the top you will see what the hot key for it is. If there is anything you specifically have a problem with feel free to ask.
I’m definitely not interested in playing games without a controller, I play on a tv from my couch so that would be incredibly cumbersome. But beyond that, right clicking the mouse doesn’t even work to rotate the screen. Nothing does. Also how do I change the setting that stops edge scrolling when there’s a menu in the way, that’s ridiculous, and how do I change my perspective to be level with the ground? Maybe I can bind them myself.
I can understand that coming from console you are used to the limitations that gives. Personally I wouldn't dream of giving up my gaming chair and monitor much better than a TV.
You don't just right click to rotate. As I wrote you must also drag left or right.
In Game Options Game Camera you can turn off Edge scrolling if you don't like it.
I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the many other options there are.
@jpkarlsen My issue with edge scrolling isn’t that I don’t like it, it’s that I can’t use it to scroll when there’s a menu in the way. There must be a way to change that setting, isn’t there? Do people just accept never being able to scroll down or up easily when they’re in build mode?
In build mode I use left click and drag to pan around. Much faster than edge scrolling any way. But you are right that if there is a menu there you can not use edge scrolling.
@jpkarlsenIs there a way to keep the camera from immediately dropping to ground level when you the approach the edge of the building on one of the higher floors? It’s so bad it’s almost unplayable on the top level, especially when combined with how difficult it is to navigate the camera.
If you're using the Sims 3 camera, try zooming in, zooming out, and/or tilting the camera to a higher angle. I don't have enough experience with the default camera to offer any advice on using it.
@DystopianViolet Hello! Please forgive me in advance for the length of this post. There's a lot to cover here and I wanted to be as thorough as possible.
I completely understand that you would want to keep using a controller, since that is what you're familiar with. The problem, as you know, is that the PC version is really not optimized for it. Just FYI, I also play from my couch. :-) My PC and monitor are on a rolling table that I can move out of the way when I need to. I personally like the graphics better on a monitor. I have a lap desk and use a wireless keyboard / mouse combo I got for around $20USD. As @jpkarlsen said, it is much more versatile. Perhaps you could give this option some more thought? I think you will find things more manageable, especially in Build Buy mode. If you do decide to invest in a wireless keyboard / mouse, make sure you get one that does not have the number pad. I have not been able to find a lap desk that is big enough to accommodate a full size keyboard and mouse.
In the meantime, have you investigated the different cameras as @Sketch793 suggested? I really don't know how these work with a controller on PC but maybe you could play around with the options. The PS4 version only has the Free Cam option. The PC version gives more options but they are designed to work with a keyboard and mouse. After all, TS4 was originally a computer game, then adapted for console. :-) - Look in the upper right corner and select the camera icon - First, there is a zoom tool - Then, two rotate options that turn the lot right and left at quarter turns - There's the Sims 4 camera, which is the default - There's a Free Camera option that is similar to the PS4 Free Cam -- This can also be accessed using the tab key on a keyboard and the only time I use it is for panning around to get screen grabs to share - Then there's the Sims 3 camera option which uses different controls, such as the tilt that sketch mentioned -- The tilt is good for getting better angles of the build - Lastly, there's a Top Down option -- I find this is nice when trying to place some things in a small room with walls up
As for edge scrolling, this only works for Build Buy with the Fullscreen or Windowed Fullscreen options and you have to close the BB menu, which is the same on PS4. To close the menu, you just need to select the option that you have open. For example, if you've selected stairs to open that menu, select the stairs again and the menu will close, allowing you to edge scroll.
The camera jumping is a bit of a pain sometimes and there's really no way to correct it without editing the file that governs the camera. You could run a search for how to do this if you want to learn more but I've tried it and found that it can cause some problems. So, I prefer to just work with the camera as is. I think about it like a movie camera rig that can't be seen behind me. When the camera drops off the floor, I just have to play with the zoom and the camera positioning to get to the view I need.
Based on other things you've asked so far, select the spoiler below to see some tips for if you decide to try a keyboard mouse.
- Check this YT video tutorial I created. Fair warning, there's a weird audio glitch at the beginning so turn down your volume for the first few seconds. The main purpose of this video was to explain how stairs work but, if you prefer, you can jump to the 1:01 minute mark where I talk about some of the camera stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmfLe7Nkv24
- TS4 camera -- Left click once on any spot to center the camera on that spot (I did this accidentally in the video lol) -- Left click and hold to drag the lot in any direction -- Right click and hold, then drag left and right to rotate the lot -- Middle button wheel scroll forward and backward to zoom in and out -- Middle button wheel click and hold then drag to scroll around the lot -- Select an object to pick it up then right click to rotate the object or use the < and > keys to rotate
- TS3 camera -- Left click to select objects and rooms -- Left click and hold an object, then drag the mouse to rotate it or use < and > to rotate the object once selected --- Note that using the moveobjects cheat with TS3 camera allows you to left click and hold then rotate a selected object in any direction, not just the grid -- Middle button wheel click and hold to tilt the camera vertically and horizontally -- Right click and hold to scroll around the lot
Note that for both TS4 and TS3 cameras, holding the Alt key while an object is selected allows for free placement off the grid.
Hopefully this helps but please come back and post here if you have any other questions.
Note the video link below is part of the spoiler.
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