>>538285662
Yes, that's how I interpret it in Sonic 1, but Sonic 2, 3, and Adventure is where it gets messy. In Sonic 2 you could just argue that since Westside Island is inhabited there are just people living there. But then in Sonic 3 Knuckles is supposed to be alone. Except the manual says the animal of Angel Island gave Knuckles a nickname. And then in Sonic Adventure there's a town in Ice Cap that's never explained at all lol
I don't think Sonic Team thought it through

Also the Sonic series never had a problem with technology, Eggman is supposed to represent an abuse of technology, not technology in itself