Hmm, it seems like it will be pretty hard to change mid-game from being a game playable only as male, to being a game with both genders. I wish you serious luck with that, and maybe I could help with it later, in a way, because I would spot that stuff if I did a playthrough. Also, I suggest setting a flag based on gender so you can use it for events with gender-specific language.
Actually, apparently I didn't make it clear enough? But I only half-enjoyed my last trip, and am extremely skeptical whenever anyone suggests I will like it this time... Because of circumstances. I am staying with relatives, and I don't like how they do things. And this time my mom is coming, and she is also bossy and never seems able to see things from my point of view.
Well, see, what I do also creates player choice. It is up to them whether they want easy battles, and just to enjoy interacting with people and the environment, or whether they want or need a challenge in the game. I myself would be the sort of person to keep, say, my starter or something just to be safe, but have new Pokémon for the rest of my party. That way I don't have to get too fussed worrying about having bad luck or something (or having issues in Sinnoh - I thought there was way too much extra leveling required in DPP and had to stop training all but one of my Pokémon in Platinum - I am impatient ^^). And, that way I can still have fun training, instead of all the battles being boring. But this way, they can choose which new Pokémon to train, also.
And yes, what little I saw of the anime these days is suckeh. I haven't watched much, mind you, so I could be wrong, but I don't think Ash has really had much character development, and as the key protagonist, he should have had. People's personalities change over time, because of things that happen to them, things they learn, etc. And it's sad that the most lovable people on the show - even to somebody who pretty much always sides with the heroes and those who fight for justice - are... Team Rocket. Sorry, but it had to be said... XD
Aww, you called me mature. o^.^o (XD) Um, anyway... I'd say it's because I know how it can feel, and I'm usually sensitive about people's feelings, yet I was taught (by deed, not by literally being told) that any mistake, no matter how accidental or unforseeable, is bad and should never have happened (my mom always expected me to think of things that she did, but how she thought of them that quickly with nothing to hint at them, I never understood... XD). So anyway, I try to fix things that are wrong, and try pretty hard not to make mistakes in the first place, even though everybody always does. I can be a bit nitpicky. But, I can mute the criticisim if I'm in a good mood, by also saying things I thought were good. I guess you could say it's maturity, but I don't really know. I'm mature in some ways - in some ways, I've always been mature for my age. And in some ways, there are people who would think of me as extrememly childish. Turn and turn about, you know?
Myself, I'm not so much into battling other people online or in person. Not unless I'm pretty sure I can win. Because when I lose, I take it personally. I always take it as meaning I'm not as good as I expected myself to be, not as good as I thought I should be. It's not that I have to win to be better than my opponent... I have to win to believe I am good enough to keep playing. And because I know there are people out there who are more strategic, long range thinkers, and because my luck is utterly unpredictable, I know that some day I would come upon an opponent - and maybe more than one - who'd make me feel like a complete noob, even if I'm not that awful. One of those people who can think ahead like my mom, and grind my party into the dust. One of those people who can get 100 wins in the Battle Tower, when I was lucky to get 21 or so... XD
And it's all because when I think long range, I can only think of one possible plan. If that plan falls apart, I am helpless to pick up the pieces. And my luck is completely unreliable, so one time I can win a battle on luck, but the next time I'll get owned - by luck. XD