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.
I know some other builders have some tips on how to avoid that Personally I'm not that much of a builder.
You can try changing to Sims 3 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.
