Science has finally answered the eternal question

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K2J
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Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by K2J »

...and the answer is, "No, Sonic's archnemesis is named Robotnik, silly."

Let's see, we have sonic hedgehog, pikachurin, and now robotnikinin. Fun guys, those scientists.

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CM August
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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by CM August »

Fuck yeah.

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Crowbar
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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Crowbar »

Oh wow, and the naming is appropriate too!

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Yami CJMErl »

This is the most awesome and relevant science-based news in YEARS.

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Ngangbius »

No matter, Japanese scientists will change the name to eggmanin.

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CM August
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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by CM August »

Hasn't Robotnik been Eggman's surname since, like, SA2? Why people still desire to ignore such an awesome name is beyond me.

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Xyton
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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Xyton »

I've always viewed it as Dr. Robotnik, with Eggman as the nickname, à la Sonic Adventure. I know that's not the "official" Japanese canon, but… Yeah. Sonic canon. :P

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Wombatwarlord777 »

Dr. Eggman was always the character's "official" name. If I remember correctly, "Dr. Robotnik" was created to appeal to the Western market (possibly because the name sounds Russian, and invokes the tolitarianism associated with the Soviet Union), and was slowly changed to Dr. Eggman beginning in Sonic Adventure.

However, Maria and Gerald's surnames are Robotnik. So, like Xyton stated, Dr. Robotnik is probably the character's formal name, and Eggman is an alias.

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Kogen
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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Kogen »

Robotnik has nothing to do with the Soviet Union... and the game came out in 1991, the same year it was entirely gone. They just made up word with 'robot' in it and it just accidently means a Polish word that is not even related.

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by j-man »

It's Czech, not Polish, isn't it?

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Oompa Star »

Finally something relevant and worthwhile! Robotnikinin sounds like the name of a drug.

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by gr4yJ4Y »

There was a girl in my high school whose last name was Robotnik. There was always laughter when her name was announced over the PA for the birthdays that day.

Also there's a girl in my Operations Management class now who has the last name of Butt.

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K2J
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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by K2J »

gr4yJ4Y wrote:There was a girl in my high school whose last name was Robotnik.
You can't be serious. I never realized it was a legitimate surname... I just thought it was a combination of "Robot" and "Nick", after the somewhat St. Nick-like design when Eggman was to be the pajama'd hero.

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Zeta
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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Zeta »

I thought the Nik came from weird, pseudo-Eastern European phrases like "Nogoodnik!"

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by j-man »

http://wiki.name.com/en/Robot
The word robot comes from the Czech robotnik, which means "slave." When traced back through its etymology, this word derives from the Old High German arabeit, meaning "work."[1] Some sources claim that the definition of robotnik is actually "peasant," while the Czech word robota means "drudgery" or "servitude."[2] In any case, it is from these words that the English word Robot came to be.
CZECH MATE

I've been waiting to say that for fucking ages.

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CM August
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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by CM August »

j-man wrote:CZECH MATE
*dies*

Anyway, I think Zeta's closest to the mark: the name may simply be derived from the old practice of slapping "nik" on the end of verbs/adjectives/whatever to make it an agent noun. More info here.

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Delphine »

j-man wrote:CZECH MATE
If I had the power to do so, I would change your title to that.

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Omni Hunter »

Damn, I wish I was a scientist and got paid to name things after videogames. That would probably be one of the best jobs ever.

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Baba O'Riley »

Omni Hunter wrote:Damn, I wish I was a scientist and got paid to name things after videogames. That would probably be one of the best jobs ever.
I suppose it'd be great for the first month or so, and then you start pumping out shit like "Bubble Bobble X9" because after a certain point it is still a job.

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Dasher »

Can't wait for Knuckleitis.

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Post by Isuka »

"Infectious monoknuckleosis".

... God, that was terrible.

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Oompa Star »

Now it sounds like you guys are talking about arthritis.

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Omni Hunter
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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Omni Hunter »

Baba O'Riley wrote:
Omni Hunter wrote:Damn, I wish I was a scientist and got paid to name things after videogames. That would probably be one of the best jobs ever.
I suppose it'd be great for the first month or so, and then you start pumping out shit like "Bubble Bobble X9" because after a certain point it is still a job.
Very true, I'd probably be gone onto street sweeping if it came to that point.

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Wombatwarlord777 »

How about we designate all the unsavory medical disorders for unsavory videogame characters?

"I'm sorry ma'am, but after extensive tests, we've determined that your son has Cranial Silver Syndrome. I'm afraid he'll never be able to operate simple machines without protective headware." Or...

"I'm sorry ma'am, but we've dianosged your daughter with Chipian Social Disorder. She'll be a social outcast for the rest of her life and compensate by gorging upon unhealthy amounts of shitty snack foods."

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Re: Science has finally answered the eternal question

Post by Dr. BUGMAN »

How about Pac-man fever? eh? eh?

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