Modify movement to feel more intuitive (align with direction faster)

Source/MyProject3/SpaceshipPawn.cpp

@@ -82,30 +82,6 @@ void ASpaceshipPawn::Tick(float DeltaTime)
 {
     Super::Tick(DeltaTime);
 
-    // Handle thrust
-    if (!bThrottlePressed)
-    {
-        CurrentThrust = FMath::FInterpTo(CurrentThrust, 0.0f, DeltaTime, ThrustDeceleration);
-    }
-    else
-    {
-        CurrentThrust = FMath::FInterpTo(CurrentThrust, TargetThrust, DeltaTime, ThrustAcceleration);
-    }
-
-    // Update movement based on ship's forward vector
-    FVector ThrustDirection = GetActorForwardVector();
-    FVector ThrustForce = ThrustDirection * CurrentThrust;
-
-    // Apply drag
-    FVector DragForce = -CurrentVelocity * DragCoefficient;
-
-    // Update velocity
-    CurrentVelocity += (ThrustForce + DragForce) * DeltaTime;
-
-    // Update position
-    FVector NewLocation = GetActorLocation() + (CurrentVelocity * DeltaTime);
-    SetActorLocation(NewLocation, true);
-
     // Debug info
     if (GEngine)
     {
@@ -140,6 +116,67 @@ void ASpaceshipPawn::Tick(float DeltaTime)
     FQuat NewQuat = FQuat::Slerp(CurrentQuat, TargetQuat, RotationSpeed * DeltaTime);
     SetActorRotation(NewQuat);
 
+    // Get the current forward vector
+    FVector CurrentDirection = GetActorForwardVector();
+    float CurrentSpeed = CurrentVelocity.Size();
+
+    // Handle thrust and velocity direction
+    if (!bThrottlePressed)
+    {
+        // Decelerate when not thrusting
+        CurrentThrust = FMath::FInterpTo(CurrentThrust, 0.0f, DeltaTime, ThrustDeceleration);
+        bWasThrottlePressed = false;
+
+        // Maintain current velocity direction when not thrusting
+        DesiredVelocityDirection = CurrentVelocity.GetSafeNormal();
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        // Accelerate when thrusting
+        CurrentThrust = FMath::FInterpConstantTo(CurrentThrust, TargetThrust, DeltaTime, ThrustAcceleration);
+
+        if (!bWasThrottlePressed)
+        {
+            // Just started thrusting - blend between current and new direction
+            if (!CurrentVelocity.IsNearlyZero())
+            {
+                // Blend between current velocity direction and new direction
+                FVector CurrentDir = CurrentVelocity.GetSafeNormal();
+                DesiredVelocityDirection = FMath::Lerp(CurrentDir, CurrentDirection, 1.0f - DirectionalInertia);
+                DesiredVelocityDirection.Normalize();
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                // If nearly stationary, use new direction
+                DesiredVelocityDirection = CurrentDirection;
+            }
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // Continuously blend towards current facing direction while thrusting
+            DesiredVelocityDirection = FMath::VInterpNormalRotationTo(
+                DesiredVelocityDirection,
+                CurrentDirection,
+                DeltaTime,
+                VelocityAlignmentSpeed
+            );
+        }
+        bWasThrottlePressed = true;
+    }
+
+    // Calculate thrust force
+    FVector ThrustForce = CurrentDirection * CurrentThrust;
+
+    // Apply drag
+    FVector DragForce = -CurrentVelocity * DragCoefficient;
+
+    // Update velocity with forces
+    CurrentVelocity += (ThrustForce + DragForce) * DeltaTime;
+
+    // Update position
+    FVector NewLocation = GetActorLocation() + (CurrentVelocity * DeltaTime);
+    SetActorLocation(NewLocation, true);
+
     // Update spring arm rotation to match ship with smooth interpolation
     if (CameraSpringArm)
     {

Source/MyProject3/SpaceshipPawn.h

@@ -60,6 +60,13 @@ protected:
     UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadWrite, Category = "Movement")
     float DragCoefficient = 0.05f;
 
+    // How quickly velocity aligns with new direction
+    UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadWrite, Category = "Movement", meta = (ClampMin = "0.0", ClampMax = "10.0"))
+    float VelocityAlignmentSpeed = 4.0f;
+
+    UPROPERTY(EditAnywhere, BlueprintReadWrite, Category = "Movement", meta = (ClampMin = "0.0", ClampMax = "1.0", ToolTip = "How much of the current velocity is maintained when changing direction (0 = none, 1 = full)"))
+    float DirectionalInertia = 0.3f;
+
     // Input functions
     void HandleThrottleStarted(const FInputActionValue& Value);
     void HandleThrottleReleased(const FInputActionValue& Value);
@@ -81,4 +88,7 @@ private:
     FVector2D MouseDeltaSmoothed;
     FVector2D LastMouseDelta;
     float MouseSmoothingSpeed = 10.0f;  
+
+    bool bWasThrottlePressed;
+    FVector DesiredVelocityDirection;
 };