Speed Build vs Stop Motion Build

Feather Charm

3 days ago

6 min read

Hello Everyone!

If you know me, personally, you probably would have seen my very first attempts at creating a Sims build channel, on my personal YouTube account. I started creating speed builds, in The Sims 2, since I hadn’t discovered the beauty of stop motion at the time. However, as I moved onto The Sims 4, and began creating videos on the Feather's Charm YouTube channel, I moved over from speed builds to stop motion. Why? For the most part, they’re shorter and add a more dynamic feel to the video, like my object interactions, but will I ever go back into speed build?

The Concept And The Story

In The Sims 4, I’ve grown used to the dynamic camera angles and functions, which aid in the creation of dynamic camera shots. As you all know, I have studied a degree in film production, so I’m very well aware of the way cameras move and how camera operators shift and move their cameras, to get the best angle or something unique and interesting. It’s a similar story for The Sims 4. While their zoom is insane (literally you can do an extra wide shot and super close ups, although it will distort the image), you can move the camera as if it were on a tracking dolly (a set of tracks that cameras use for smooth movement).

So, as a filmmaker this dynamic really excites me, because I can capture the builds I make, and the way my Sims interact with it, as if it was a real location, and my Sims are real people. Of course, the illusion doesn’t start until I enter the build and start furnishing it, but the whole idea is to give you, my viewers, an idea of what it’s like, as if you were walking through the building, like you’re on a tour. That’s the whole reason why I love doing a stop motion build. They immerse you in the story of the house, even if there is no story.

The Behind The Scenes

One thing I do like about speed builds is that they show you the “behind the scenes”, as it were, of a build. You get to see how objects are placed and what mods or functions in the game, helped the builder create the look they’re going for. Honestly, every time I see a speed build, I watch the way builders place their items in a certain order, before using the T.O.O.L mod (by TwistedMexi) to place it in just the right spot. The creativity of some of these builders are absolutely amazing, and I know I would never be able to replicate it, or give a tutorial on how, since I have yet to use my creativity in that way.

Source

Now, don’t get me wrong. I do sometimes sit down and wonder if I’m going to create a speed build, for my next one, but then, I start building and I realise I never hit record. Of course, it never really occurs to me to record the build, while I’m building, but at the same time, I get rather nervous, whenever I think about filming one. That’s because unlike some of the builders out there, I can’t park my camera and build. I need to move it about, even when I’m not actually adding anything to the space, because I need to see what I’m working with, and judge whether the space will work or not. Essentially, if I do create a full speed build, it might come with an epilepsy warning, because of just how much movement there would be in the video.

No Room For Mistakes

So, I’ve talked about the pros for each type of build video, but what are the cons? Well, let’s start out with the stop motion version. First of all, I need to reiterate that these videos are done backwards, and because of that, sometimes, before the video starts, some planning is involved, like what path to take, when you’re shooting the build. Now, that’s not the worst part. The worst part of a stop motion build is that if you make a mistake, you either live with it, and work your way around it, or you’ll need to film the entire thing, over again, especially if the mistake happened 3 or 4 angles prior to the angle you’re working on.

What I mean is, say for example, I set an angle for a living room, and film that part, then I carry on my merry way, until I get myself out into the hallway. Halfway through I decide to look through what I’d previously filmed and realised one of the screenshots I’d taken was just a little off (say I pressed the C button too early, or the Reshade filter I’m using wasn’t on), I’d either have to live with the mistake, and edit it into the video regardless, or I’d have to start the process all over again. It’s so frustrating, especially because, as a stop motion builder, I’m filming the build backwards. So, if I want to change the way I transitioned from one room to the other, I’d have to start all over again, because that mistake leads into another. It’s infuriating sometimes, and when this happens, I entertain the idea of giving up.

Can Your Attention Span Last?

Now, with speed builds, mistakes are a non-factor. You don’t need to worry about it, because you’re essentially letting your viewers watch you, while you build the space. So, if you do make a mistake, it’s not noticeable, and you can easily tweak it, as part of the video. Honestly, that’s the one aspect of speed builds that I miss. However, there is one thing that I don’t like about speed builds and that’s the length of the video. If we’re simply speeding up the building process, I can guarantee you that the video could go as long as an hour, maybe even more, if it’s a particularly big build. Who has time to watch a build for an hour!

I most certainly don’t. Not to mention, when it comes to speed building you have the option to keep the in-game sounds effects, like the thud of walls as they’re being placed, or the click of an object being set down. You also have the option to create a voiceover to explain to your viewers what you’re doing, while you’re building. Now, this part I don’t really care for. I already create voiceovers for the My Bullet Journal Journey videos, and as a filmmaker, it’s a nightmare trying to sync up the audio, and add extra visual aids, to make it more interesting. I don’t want to have to be doing that for my Sims 4 builds. Plus, if I need to speak for over an hour, I’m going to lose my voice. It's not easy trying to come up with something to say that isn’t just “Oh yeah, I did this because I thought it was pretty”.

Will I Ever Do A Speed Build?

Not for The Sims 4. However, if I create a house in InZoi or Paralives, one day, I will need to. As far as I’m aware, they don’t have a dynamic camera function that allows you to create dynamic stop motion builds. I could fiddle around with the camera and mimic a stop motion build angle, but it would just be additional work that I wouldn’t want to put in the effort for. Essentially, if you do ever see a speed build from me, it would be for one of these games, and not The Sims 4.

In fact, that’s what I like about The Sims 4, the whole premise of the game is creating stories through a life simulation. I think that’s what a lot of people forget about it. While, yes, it’s a video game, it also has its own version of lore and storytelling. There are secrets and easter eggs hidden all around the worlds in the game, and in the game’s live mode functions that allude to the rich story, the Sims team have cooked up for the game. Of course, as a filmmaker and storyteller, that’s what I love about it. It’s another form of storytelling. So, I will be sticking with the stop motion builds, for now, until I decide to create content for other video games.

What Do You Prefer?

So, I’ve told you what I prefer, what about you guys? Do you prefer watching speed builds or stop motion builds? Would you like to see me make a speed build (other than a room)? Or do you like the stories I tell, through my stop motion builds? Let me know in the comments below.

Well, that’s it from me today, I’m going to go and finish this next build for next month. In the meantime, please don’t forget to like, subscribe, comment, share and follow me, here on Feather’s Charm, on my YouTube channel, on my Twitch channel, on my other social media accounts (Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok), and on Patreon. Your support really does help me make more content like this, for you guys.