How to move an object over time rather than instantly?

[temlotresid6]

I'll post more code if needed, but I'm a bit confused. I'm currently using pygame for this.

I use randint() to spawn objects at random intervals, and then after that, move them in a random direction (up, down, left or right) at a different random interval. My problem is that with how I've coded it, the objects snap/teleport whatever the distance is, rather than move there at a fast speed that I set. I can't seem to figure out how to make them move gradually to a random destination.

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# directions for the enemy object to move in directions = [(1, 0), (-1, 0), (0, 1), (0, -1)]   # spawn an enemy in a random spot def spawn_enemy_object():     x = randint(0, window.get_width() - object_size)     y = randint(0, window.get_height() - object_size)     enemy_direction = choice(directions)     return {         'rect': pygame.Rect(x, y, object_size, object_size),         'enemy_direction': enemy_direction,         'enemy_move_time': pygame.time.get_ticks() + randint(5000, 8000),         'enemy_moves_left': 2,         'is_enemy_moving': True,  # start moving         'speed': 50  # speed of the enemy rectangle object     }           elif event.type == move_event:             current_time = pygame.time.get_ticks()             for obj in objects[:]:                  if current_time >= obj['enemy_move_time']:                     if obj['is_enemy_moving']:                         if obj['enemy_moves_left'] > 0:                                                           obj['rect'].x += obj['enemy_direction'][0] * obj['speed']                             obj['rect'].y += obj['enemy_direction'][1] * obj['speed']                             obj['enemy_move_time'] = current_time + randint(5000, 9000)                             obj['enemy_moves_left'] -= 1                         else:

This was my final attempt. My previous attempt was much more basic, but there was no difference unfortunately.

[menator01]

I don't know what the rest of your code looks like but, here is a basic example of pygame animation.
A red ball bouncing off of the walls.

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Added comments and added ability to increase or decrease speed using keypad + or minus key.
Speed will increase or decrease after bounce. The r key will reset default speed.

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import pygame from random import choice   pygame.init() pygame.font.init()   font = pygame.font.SysFont(None, 28)   screen_width, screen_height = (1280, 740) screen = pygame.display.set_mode((1280,740))   clock = pygame.time.Clock()   running = True   # Create a sprite group to update sprites on the screen allsprites = pygame.sprite.Group() text_sprites = pygame.sprite.Group() instruct_sprites = pygame.sprite.Group() ball_sprites = pygame.sprite.Group()   class Ball(pygame.sprite.Sprite):     ''' Mob class creates a red ball '''     def __init__(self, screen_width, screen_height):         pygame.sprite.Sprite.__init__(self)           # Create a surface         self.image = pygame.Surface((50,50))         self.image.fill('black')         self.image.set_colorkey('black')           # Get surface rect         self.rect = self.image.get_rect()           # Starting position - center of screen         self.rect.centerx = screen_width/2         self.rect.centery = screen_height/2           # Set instance variables         self.screen_width = screen_width         self.screen_height = screen_height           # Size of the ball         size = (25, 25)           # Radius of ball         radius = 25           # Draw the ball on the surface         pygame.draw.circle(self.image, 'red', size, radius)           # Set a speed         self.speed = 8           # Set x and y speed         self.speed_x = self.speed         self.speed_y = self.speed             # Blit image to screen         screen.blit(self.image, self.rect)           # Add ball to sprite group         allsprites.add(self)         ball_sprites.add(self)       def update(self):         ''' Method for updating ball position '''           # If ball reaches screen with - minus speed to go in other direction towards 0         if self.rect.right >= self.screen_width:             self.speed_x = -self.speed           # If ball reaches 0 position add positive speed for ball go in other direction towards screen width         if self.rect.left <= 0:             self.speed_x = self.speed           # If ball reaches top of screen (0 position) add positive speed to go down         if self.rect.top <= 0:             self.speed_y = self.speed           # If ball reaches screen height, add negative speed to go up toward 0 position         if self.rect.bottom >= self.screen_height:             self.speed_y = -self.speed           # Update ball position         self.rect.centerx += self.speed_x         self.rect.centery += self.speed_y     class MyText(pygame.sprite.Sprite):     def __init__(self, text, x, y, width, height):         pygame.sprite.Sprite.__init__(self)         self.image = pygame.Surface((width, height))         self.image.fill('#555555')         self.rect = self.image.get_rect()         self.rect.left = x         self.rect.top = y           self.msg = text         self.text = font.render(self.msg, True, 'white')           self.image.blit(self.text, (10,5))             # Create a ball object ball = Ball(screen_width, screen_height)   # Create the speed text object speedtext = MyText(f'Speed: {ball.speed}', 0, 0, 200, 30)   # Create the instructions text object text = 'keypad + = increase speed, keypad - = decrease speed, key r = reset speed' instructions = MyText(text, screen_width-720, screen_height-30, 720, 30)   # Add to sprite groups allsprites.add(speedtext) text_sprites.add(speedtext)   allsprites.add(instructions) instruct_sprites.add(instructions)         while running:     screen.fill('black')     for event in pygame.event.get():         if event.type == pygame.QUIT:             running = False           # If event type is key press         if event.type == pygame.KEYDOWN:               # Get the key pressed. + plus key increase speed by 1             # Minus key decrease speed by 1             # r key reset default speed             if event.key == pygame.K_KP_PLUS:                 ball.speed += 1                 if ball.speed >= 25:                     ball.speed = 25               if event.key == pygame.K_KP_MINUS:                 ball.speed -= 1                 if ball.speed <= 2:                     ball.speed = 2               if event.key == pygame.K_r:                 ball.speed = 8               # This is to empty the sprite groups of the object speed text             # so we are not piling on sprite after sprite after sprite             text_sprites.empty()             allsprites.remove(speedtext)               # Create new text with updated speed value and add to sprite groups             speedtext = MyText(f'Speed: {ball.speed}', 0, 0, 200, 30)             text_sprites.add(speedtext)             allsprites.add(speedtext)                   # Detect collissions with the text boxes     if pygame.sprite.groupcollide(ball_sprites, text_sprites, False, False):         ball.speed_y = ball.speed       if pygame.sprite.groupcollide(ball_sprites, instruct_sprites, False, False):         ball.speed_y = -ball.speed       # Update and draw all sprites     allsprites.update()     allsprites.draw(screen)           pygame.display.update()       # Set a frame rate. If you don't have this the speed is very fast     clock.tick(60)   pygame.quit()

[menator01]

Just wanted to add one more way that doesn't use sprites. I prefer sprites as it makes collision detection easier.

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import pygame from pygame import gfxdraw     running = True window_size = (1280,740) screen = pygame.display.set_mode(window_size) clock = pygame.time.Clock() fps = 60   screen_width, screen_height = screen.get_size()   # Colors BLACK = pygame.Color(0, 0, 0) WHITE = pygame.Color(255, 255, 255) RED = pygame.Color(255, 0, 0) GREEN = pygame.Color(0, 255, 0) BLUE = pygame.Color(0, 0, 255) ORANGE = pygame.Color(255, 127, 0) PURPLE = pygame.Color(255, 0, 255) CYAN = pygame.Color(0, 255, 255)   pygame.init()     class Ball:     ''' Ball class will draw a ball object '''     def __init__(self, screen):         # Set starting instance variables         self.x = screen_width/2         self.y = screen_height/2         self.radius = 25         self.speed = 8         self.speed_x = self.speed         self.speed_y = self.speed         self.color = GREEN                 def update(self):         ''' Method for updating ball position. Also chamges ball colors on wall impact '''         if self.x <= 0 + (self.radius/2+self.radius*0.5):             self.speed_x = self.speed             self.color = RED           if self.x >= screen_width-(self.radius/2+self.radius*0.5):             self.speed_x = -self.speed             self.color = CYAN           if self.y <= 0 + (self.radius/2+self.radius*0.5):             self.speed_y = self.speed             self.color = WHITE           if self.y >= screen_height-(self.radius/2+self.radius*0.5):             self.speed_y = -self.speed             self.color = GREEN                       self.x += self.speed_x         self.y += self.speed_y                           def draw(self, screen):         ''' Method for drawing ball on the screen '''         self.ball = pygame.draw.circle(screen, self.color, (self.x, self.y), self.radius)       ball = Ball(screen)     while running:     screen.fill(BLACK)         for event in pygame.event.get():         if event.type == pygame.QUIT:             running = False       # Update position and draw ball     ball.update()     ball.draw(screen)         pygame.display.update()     clock.tick(fps)   pygame.quit()

[temlotresid6]

I don't know what the rest of your code looks like but, here is a basic example of pygame animation.
A red ball bouncing off of the walls.

---

Added comments and added ability to increase or decrease speed using keypad + or minus key.
Speed will increase or decrease after bounce. The r key will reset default speed.

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import pygame from random import choice   pygame.init() pygame.font.init()   font = pygame.font.SysFont(None, 28)   screen_width, screen_height = (1280, 740) screen = pygame.display.set_mode((1280,740))   clock = pygame.time.Clock()   running = True   # Create a sprite group to update sprites on the screen allsprites = pygame.sprite.Group() text_sprites = pygame.sprite.Group() instruct_sprites = pygame.sprite.Group() ball_sprites = pygame.sprite.Group()   class Ball(pygame.sprite.Sprite):     ''' Mob class creates a red ball '''     def __init__(self, screen_width, screen_height):         pygame.sprite.Sprite.__init__(self)           # Create a surface         self.image = pygame.Surface((50,50))         self.image.fill('black')         self.image.set_colorkey('black')           # Get surface rect         self.rect = self.image.get_rect()           # Starting position - center of screen         self.rect.centerx = screen_width/2         self.rect.centery = screen_height/2           # Set instance variables         self.screen_width = screen_width         self.screen_height = screen_height           # Size of the ball         size = (25, 25)           # Radius of ball         radius = 25           # Draw the ball on the surface         pygame.draw.circle(self.image, 'red', size, radius)           # Set a speed         self.speed = 8           # Set x and y speed         self.speed_x = self.speed         self.speed_y = self.speed             # Blit image to screen         screen.blit(self.image, self.rect)           # Add ball to sprite group         allsprites.add(self)         ball_sprites.add(self)       def update(self):         ''' Method for updating ball position '''           # If ball reaches screen with - minus speed to go in other direction towards 0         if self.rect.right >= self.screen_width:             self.speed_x = -self.speed           # If ball reaches 0 position add positive speed for ball go in other direction towards screen width         if self.rect.left <= 0:             self.speed_x = self.speed           # If ball reaches top of screen (0 position) add positive speed to go down         if self.rect.top <= 0:             self.speed_y = self.speed           # If ball reaches screen height, add negative speed to go up toward 0 position         if self.rect.bottom >= self.screen_height:             self.speed_y = -self.speed           # Update ball position         self.rect.centerx += self.speed_x         self.rect.centery += self.speed_y     class MyText(pygame.sprite.Sprite):     def __init__(self, text, x, y, width, height):         pygame.sprite.Sprite.__init__(self)         self.image = pygame.Surface((width, height))         self.image.fill('#555555')         self.rect = self.image.get_rect()         self.rect.left = x         self.rect.top = y           self.msg = text         self.text = font.render(self.msg, True, 'white')           self.image.blit(self.text, (10,5))             # Create a ball object ball = Ball(screen_width, screen_height)   # Create the speed text object speedtext = MyText(f'Speed: {ball.speed}', 0, 0, 200, 30)   # Create the instructions text object text = 'keypad + = increase speed, keypad - = decrease speed, key r = reset speed' instructions = MyText(text, screen_width-720, screen_height-30, 720, 30)   # Add to sprite groups allsprites.add(speedtext) text_sprites.add(speedtext)   allsprites.add(instructions) instruct_sprites.add(instructions)         while running:     screen.fill('black')     for event in pygame.event.get():         if event.type == pygame.QUIT:             running = False           # If event type is key press         if event.type == pygame.KEYDOWN:               # Get the key pressed. + plus key increase speed by 1             # Minus key decrease speed by 1             # r key reset default speed             if event.key == pygame.K_KP_PLUS:                 ball.speed += 1                 if ball.speed >= 25:                     ball.speed = 25               if event.key == pygame.K_KP_MINUS:                 ball.speed -= 1                 if ball.speed <= 2:                     ball.speed = 2               if event.key == pygame.K_r:                 ball.speed = 8               # This is to empty the sprite groups of the object speed text             # so we are not piling on sprite after sprite after sprite             text_sprites.empty()             allsprites.remove(speedtext)               # Create new text with updated speed value and add to sprite groups             speedtext = MyText(f'Speed: {ball.speed}', 0, 0, 200, 30)             text_sprites.add(speedtext)             allsprites.add(speedtext)                   # Detect collissions with the text boxes     if pygame.sprite.groupcollide(ball_sprites, text_sprites, False, False):         ball.speed_y = ball.speed       if pygame.sprite.groupcollide(ball_sprites, instruct_sprites, False, False):         ball.speed_y = -ball.speed       # Update and draw all sprites     allsprites.update()     allsprites.draw(screen)           pygame.display.update()       # Set a frame rate. If you don't have this the speed is very fast     clock.tick(60)   pygame.quit()

Thanks for the reply. I actually managed to solve this on my own by just redoing the entire code. I had to completely change every part of the code in my post that handles AI movement and now I get that smooth, gradual movement that I was trying to get. But I also tested your code and it was insightful so I appreciate it. I'm going to look into both replies of yours once I've progressed a bit more with pygame, especially when it comes to sprites.