FindWithTag always Returning null

Questions & Answers
1

I’m trying to create a very simple AI by getting an enemy game object to find the player and follow it. Although the Player is tagged with player the function FindWithTag seems to always be returning null and I cannot figure out why. I have looked around for days without finding anyone with a similar problem to mine.
My enemy controller script uses the FindWithTag to find the player game Object:

#pragma strict

public var health = 10f;
public var damage = 5f;
public var moveSpeed = 5f;
public var testPlayer : GameObject;

/*private var stats : enemyStats;*/
private var currentHealth = health;
private var player : GameObject;
private var rb : Rigidbody2D;

function start(){
  /*stats = new enemyStats(health, damage);*/
  if(player == null){
    player = GameObject.FindWithTag("Player");
  }

  rb = GetComponent(Rigidbody2D);
}

function OnCollisionEnter2D (collision : Collision2D){
	//Check that the player is colliding with a powerup
	if(collision.gameObject.tag == "Projectile"){
    Destroy(collision.gameObject);
    //currentHealth -= bulletDamage;
    if(currentHealth <= 0){
      Destroy(gameObject);
    }
	}
}

function Update(){
  Debug.Log(player);
  Debug.Log(testPlayer.tag);
  /*transform.LookAt(player.transform);*/
  /*rb.AddForce(transform.forward * moveSpeed, ForceMode2D.Impulse);*/
}

The Debug.Log statements write null and Player respectively and the collision with the projectile objects works fine and the tag is detected properly. Both the player and the enemy object are instantiated by a gamecontroller, the player right at the beginning and the enemy a few seconds after. My player game object is correctly tagged with the Player tag. [93996-player-tag.png |93996]

I can’t seem to find out why the FindWithTag function is returning null.

4

Let me post it as an answer for other people. Some are too lazy to check the comments, no offense :).

The start function should be written with a capital S. Functions are case-sensitive.

2

Now, I’m a C# man, so I’m not sure, but it appears to me that this is what’s going on:

private var player : GameObject;

→ Now, that variable is not Null, is it?

if(player == null){
player = GameObject.FindWithTag(“Player”);
}

→ That probably never happens, does it?

Sorry if I’m wrong :slight_smile:

3

I found the issue, as @Patrick2607 pointed out my start function is not capitalized. Thank you for the replies.