Console Controller Feedback

I'm relieved we got a quick patch yesterday for the crashing, that's much quicker than I expected but...no mention of the broken controls. And let's be totally clear they are broken. This isn't a set of improvements we don't like or that we are still getting used to, basic functions are broken completely or only functioning as they should sporadically.

It's causing discomfort for eyes and hands and it often doesn't hit me till I've stopped playing. This game has never highlighted my disability as much as it has in this past week. It's usually what I use to take a break from it, now it's aggravating it.

So I'm really concerned that there's someone somewhere saying "they'll get used to it". If not then I'm sure I can be forgiven for thinking that because there has been no real statement or reassurance from the team themselves (I don't blame EA and appreciate they let us know when they know), there was a message from The Sims Direct on the crashing thread but not here. What does "taking feedback" mean. This isn't feedback, it's anguish. We've got players in tears here, we've got players who can't play. I'm only stubbornly playing still because I wasn't able to play for months after the HSY patch and I've spent to much money to leave it sad idle for more months.

What's happening? Will someone from the team tell us something. Have they been more forthcoming on Twitter?

When feedback was requested months ago, all we wanted were shortcuts, extra functions and a sell all button. Nobody asked for a total rewrite.

It's a testimony to how much we love this game that we tolerate so much.

Yesterday, I updated my game and I went to build mode. It was terrible. i couldn't build because I couldn't get the build catalogue off! it was on the way. I swear, I tried everything and checked settings etc. this is so distracting because I'm a passionate builder and i just can't build like this. I can't see well my house while building! so I am asking you to fix this like it was before. or give us a choice to put the catalogue off! please, I don't want to stop playing my favorite game because of something like this.  I love building so much...

So, please, could you give us an option to put the catalogue off like we could do before?

waiting for your answer,

Passionate builder 

As someone who has been playing sims 4 on console for a while now, I’m very used to the old functions on build mode. 

I dislike how slow it is to build now. I did not have an issue with the way it was before, I know some people might of not liked it. 

I just wish it could be an option to have it the way it is now and the way it was before. It’s very difficult on console to be back and fourth scrolling to scroll down. That goes for the designs as well, I just feel like the building process has been slowed down because of it. 

Just please make it an option to have it like the old way!

It's a shame there has been no acknowledgement (telling us the thread is being monitored isn't acknowledgement). I don't feel very hopeful that they will change the controls back as I do believe it has been done to make their jobs easier in the future when it comes to updating Sims 4. 

It's rare to see so many players complain about one specific thing over many different platforms (here, the Sims forum, Twitter, Reddit ect.) Especially console players as I believe there are fewer of us. There have been many complaints about bugs, but this was by design. 

A simple statement saying that they acknowledge the fact players are unhappy with the changes would be nice. Reverting the changes or giving us options would be better. 

It was a very big and sudden change with no forewarning and has made the game unplayable for many. It wasn't fair, it wasn't considerate, and it wasn't for the players best interest. 

Please stop catering to PC players who occasionally play the console, please stop catering only for new players who won't have had the old controls to compare too. The fact that you already have our money shouldn't impact your loyalty to us but it has. 

I literally created this account so I could humbly request that the sims team Please change the controls back to how they used to be or at least give players the options to choose between the new controls and the old ones. I play on PS4 and I am mostly a builder. I Hate, I mean loathe to my very core, that the build/buy menu doesn't collapse like it used to. It gets in the way and I can't see what I'm working on. Also, because the build/buy menu no longer collapses, anytime I try to change the position of an object from full grid to half grid the search menu pops up. Now, instead of just moving the analog stick or arrows to scroll through items like a normal console player, the sims team changed it to where players have to scroll through the menu with a cursor, like on a computer... Every now and then I get the controls to work how they used and it's so relieving until I'm struck with realization that was a one time deal and I'm still forced to scroll with a cursor through the menu that won't collapse. Changing the confirmation button from 'X' to 'R2' makes absolutely no sense and is so unnatural. All these changes are so unspeakably frustrating that it makes me wonder if the sims team have any console players at all. The changes were clearly calibrated with PC players in mind but marketed as though they are helping console players. I get it, we console players are the black sheep of the sims family, but seriously, we paid just as much money for the base game plus all the DLCs, so we deserve quick and precise action. The update last night is not going to cut it. Please either change the controls back or give simmers the option to play with either control setup. It's that simple. It's that old adage of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". The controls weren't broke, the game has serious lag issues especially when changing between build mode and live mode, it takes forever for build item menus to load, the amount of time waiting between loading screens is ridiculous, etc. Also, it would be pretty cool if we could have mods since the recent DLCs content quality keeps getting worse and worse. 

Personally I am horrified that EA are refusing to acknowledge us console players. I havnt played since the 31/1 update. I can't play. It's impossible. It's like the controller just doesn't work anymore for build mode. We never asked for different controls we asked for more options. And we were completely ignored. I would love to know who to contact for a refund on all my packs and kits and expansions as the game is totally unplayable now. I literally cried. I own every pack but weddings.  I will not be buying the new pack in march and I am not even switching the game on until they fix the controls 

Hello! Thank you for giving us the opportunity to say our opinion.

if possible, it would be so great to have back the old building system. It’s becoming difficult to build a house or simply enjoying The Sims 4 on PlayStation (i read it’s the same on XBox). You change the method of building and it’s not easy now (it take more time to do a simple thing).

i really hope you’ll read that and take note. I was enjoying playing The Sims 4 on my PS5 and now no. I couldn’t play for more than an hour 😕

Plus, we can’t put away what’s in the green circle on the picture. It’s definitely not enjoyable 😅

I play Sims 4 on Xbox S and I am adding my 2 cents to the console build mode patch complaints. I really hate the new Build Mode control changes. Like others here, I hate not being able to close the catalogue so I can see what I'm building better, and not being able to move through build items using right stick and page through tabs/items with the D pad. Holding down the little slider on the left to scroll up and down with sticks is a pain, but especially so since the "old" way (before the patch) was 1000 times more intuitive for console gamers who play other games on console. In fact, almost everything about Xbox controls for build mode was more intuitive for console gamers before this patch, IMO.

Here are some other complaints as I think of them: I hate not being able to resize the terrain paint brush area using the D pad, and not being able to move up and down between circle and square shaped terrain paint areas using D pad. I was cursing the screen for a while last night until I finally figured out that you have to move a cursor over to the little button and hold it and then "scroll," like what you would do with a mouse on PC.

Keep in mind that moving a cursor with console controller sticks is far slower and just takes more physical effort than moving a cursor on a PC using a mouse. It feels super clunky to me because I play other console games, and I can't think of a single one that doesn't use the buttons, bumpers, and triggers to navigate menus rather than stick movement. Sticks are for camera movement, gameplay, and actual motion in the game. All the other games I've played on console, I guess.

If you (EA team) feel some console players wanted these changes and like them, then please create a Gameplay check box under Settings to switch back to "Less PC-Like Build Mode Controls, Like they Were Before the Patch," or some catchy title like that. 🙂 Just as a side note, I've built several houses in Sims 4 on PC over the past month, just to see if I would like it, and what I told my Sims 4 on PC friends was "There's a few things that are easier on PC but in general almost everything is just smoother and more fluid on console." Welp, that's no longer true...sadly........

The new console controls feel slow and unintuitive.  I appreciate that the build menu doesn't reset constantly, but not being able to scroll through the build menu with the d pad or stick is a pain.