How Have You Laid Out Sunset Valley With Ambitions?

[LlamaMama]

I'm kind of bummed because I can't enjoy my Sunset Valley towns with the new awkwardly-placed community lots. Redesigning the town to include a thoughtful placement of new lots would require a whole lot of work that I'm just not good at, and once done, would not stick for future new SV games.

How have you handled incorporating Ambitions into Sunset Valley?

[Metropolis Man]

Well, in my case, it's easy because I've only started fresh new games after a total wipe/reinstall. So, all the new buildings are placed in a new neighborhood. My suggestion is to start a new game, note where the developers placed the new lots and then just see if you can duplicate that in one of your existing games where you have to place the buildings.

[Pam]

Well, in my case, it's easy because I've only started fresh new games after a total wipe/reinstall. So, all the new buildings are placed in a new neighborhood. My suggestion is to start a new game, note where the developers placed the new lots and then just see if you can duplicate that in one of your existing games where you have to place the buildings.

Are your new lots facing the right direction?  I've heard complaints that even the developer placed lots aren't very well designed. 

[Metropolis Man]

Are your new lots facing the right direction?  I've heard complaints that even the developer placed lots aren't very well designed. 

Heh. Funny you should mention that, Pam!  At least in Sunset Valley the front of the consignment store is not even facing the street. Crazy. Doesn't really bother me, but it does look stupid though. I'm not sure on the other buildings because I haven't visited any others.

[Twinmum]

In Riverview, the junkyard is placed sideways I think, but what annoys me is the fact that a tiny junkyard is placed on one of the largest blocks available (and a block I often choose to build on)

Norma

[Deborah]

Are your new lots facing the right direction?  I've heard complaints that even the developer placed lots aren't very well designed. 

None of them are facing the street, but you can move their direction. However if you do, remember to reselect what sort of lot it is.

[LlamaMama]

I was referring to the lots facing the wrong direction, as well as the fact that they aren't placed logically within the town and take up some larger lots.  Also, there is no continuity with the sidewalks, as the buildings have a border of excess grass around them.

I've spent some time today learning more than I'd like about lots and placement, while moving things around. In a thread on an official forum I found that a common solution was to relocate the housing that currently is next to the spa, and then place the fire station, consignment shop, and salon in their places next to the spa. For me that wasn't a piece of cake!

Then "save as" Sunset Valley Ambitions, and use that save as a starter town in future new games, renaming of course.

[Branr]

Pfft, I just added new lots: laundromat is near the Citizen's Warehouse, consignment shop is across the street from the art gallery, at the end of the line of condos nearest the beach, fire station is behind the police station, the salon is on the road next to the beach, along with the hangout, and the small junkyard is on the road headed up to Crystal Springs(?) in the mountains.

[Pam]

None of them are facing the street, but you can move their direction. However if you do, remember to reselect what sort of lot it is.

How do you change their direction?  I looked into that, but didn't see how to do it.

[LlamaMama]

How do you change their direction?  I looked into that, but didn't see how to do it.

All I could figure was to bulldoze the lot and replace the building, then "rotate lot". The buildings are in the library under community lots.

[Pam]

Thanks, LlamaMama.  I appreciate the information. 

[Deborah]

How do you change their direction?  I looked into that, but didn't see how to do it.

There is a hand icon Pam, that is how you change direction. It is below the arrow looking thing in edit town.

Sorry I can't explain exactly where it is, but I am on my macbook, not the computer that has my game on it.

My kids seem to think that my pc is theirs. LOL

[Twinmum]

How do you change their direction?  I looked into that, but didn't see how to do it.

When you go into edit town, select the hand tool (move lot) before you select the lot. Once you have the move lot hand selected, you click on the lot and you have the option to rotate it.

Norma

[Branr]

Also, if you want to add a new lot to the town, and want to adjust the facing exactly, hold down the ALT button along with the left mouse button and pivot the mouse to change the facing.  This will allow you to have the lot face in any direction, not just the 8 compass directions.

[LlamaMama]

That sounds much easier, thanks guys. I liked having the businesses closer to the town center, so I moved them anyway. Those apartment dwellers near the spa now live on more expensive lots in my town.  It's a nice touch to extend the paving out to the curb so the buildings don't looked just plopped down.