Upon starting a new game, Professor Birch will greet you and introduce you to the world of Pokémon. You'll be prompted to choose your gender: male (Brendan) or female (May). While this choice doesn't significantly impact the main story, it determines your rival's gender and appearance. After selecting your gender, you'll be asked to enter your name. This name will be used throughout the game, so choose wisely! You can use up to 10 characters, including letters, numbers, and some symbols. Remember that your name cannot be changed once set, so take a moment to decide on a name you'll be happy with for your entire adventure. This initial setup is quick but important for personalizing your journey.
