[MastaSys]

I support the idea that those are owned by Eggman, they clash with the environments and they are all over the place.
He probabbly uses them as storage, and probabbly after some time he learned that sonic also used them, so he made fake ones, his Eggman Monitors, to get him.

[The Growler]

There actually has been sort of an explanation for them in the form of Stay Sonic - namely Dr. Ivo Kintobor, who probably placed the monitors around to help Sonic in the search for the Chaos Emeralds.

This post has been edited by The Growler: 20 May 2012 - 12:18 PM

[MastaSys]

The Growler, on 20 May 2012 - 12:15 PM, said:

There actually has been sort of an explanation for them in the form of Stay Sonic - namely Dr. Ivo Kintobor, who probably placed the monitors around to help Sonic in the search for the Chaos Emeralds.

Uhg.... if there is an western story that I hate 100% is that version of the the origin of Robotnik, Sdrawkcab Names are the most stupid thing they could apply to "Ivo Robotnik"... Well thank god is now set that he was born with Ivo Robotnik as his real name.

[KingofHarts]

Namo, on 19 May 2012 - 06:13 PM, said:

Maybe Robotnik did leave them around, but not for Sonic.

Are we forgetting that despite the IQ, Eggman is a dumbass? He has stated in one of the recent games, when he has left an opening for Sonic, instead of leaving him with no chance in hell... that he does it because he likes a challenge (And despite always bitching about failing afterwards.)

I say Eggman was the dumbass who actually left it there for Sonic, based upon this very principle... to give himself a challenge in defeating Sonic.
I think if you gave this explanation, and add a little intro to the items where Sonic is skeptical and avoids it at first or something, it's bound to give the items some meaning... and the comedy behind it will just write itself. Just my thought.

This post has been edited by KingofHarts: 25 May 2012 - 12:36 AM

[Chaos Fusion]

Well, others have already mentioned many times already so I'll just say it as well.
They are just there like the rings and springs. Its practically the same for all games that have collectibles like Mario, Rayman and whoever else. Still, There is that small(Nope) possibility that Eggman placed them around the levels ever so conveniently for Sonic to use...Afterall, he created a robot that give Shadow super powers.

This post has been edited by Chaos Fusion: 30 May 2012 - 06:33 AM

[Mercury]

There are "crates" in most video games, and the rationale is usually that the bad guys that have taken over the land / whose base you are infiltrating just have resources lying around you can exploit. Think of the monitors in Sonic like futuristic techno-crates.

Of course, if the Badniks ever used the monitors for their own purposes (imagine a Motobug in a shield), it would help this interpretation.

Power-ups in games will always be abstracted to some extent - does Sonic really put on literal Power Sneakers that wear out after 20 seconds, or what? - but considering monitors akin to crates is probably the "explanation of least resistance". One needn't posit conflicting motivations for Robotnik, or epiphenomena of the Chaos Emeralds.

[Equinox Dawn]

Well, I had always gotten the idea that it was all Dr. Robotnik's doing. Generally, we have a few possible suspects. These of course being, the cute little animals that have been cruelly trapped in robotic shells, Sonic's handful of friends, or a crazy mechanically obsessed genius? Obviously the little critters didn't pool their resources and invent some magical item storing 21st century monitor, and Sonic's friends from the original games, being Tails and Knuckles aren't quite smart enough either.

The question to me is why.

Throwing aside the, "It was there for game play purposes!" Maybe Robotnik felt like if he hid the items away, it would slow down, or at least make it a bit harder for Sonic? After all, everything found in the boxes are pretty helpful to Sonic.

Or the critters, they totally did it.