Long response ahead. You have been warned.
-Full 3D World
The series might be taking steps in that direction if 4th gen is any indication, but I'd rather have stylized sprites rather than a game in full 3D that'll only look crappy in five years. Besides, the Pokemon games already do have some openendedness in terms of sidequests, albeit not a lot. Remember that the games need to be accessible; making it more like a sandbox does not necessarily make it so, especially for the younger players.
-Character Customization
I agree, but the main focus for me is the customization of my team, not my character. I could care less about how the hero looks.
-Elemental Starters
How about not? Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types would be horrible overpowered due to their strengths against Normal attacks. At the very least, I'd like to see what Platinum did and change the starter's type from singular to dual--but no more damn Fire/Fighting Starters.
-Real Time Battles
What's wrong with turn-based? It adds more strategy and allows for item and skill management, rather than just spam your strongest attacks. Well, the spamming is still true now, but I blame the horrible Trainer rosters for that...
-Rivals
I agree on this. Or, at the very least, make the rival(s) more three-dimensional. Put in a character that hates you or something.
-Hobos
No.
-Difficulty Settings
Yes. Very much wanted.
-New Continent
I'd prefer the ability to go to every continent more than this, actually. And making all the Pokemon available in one game defeats the whole purpose of the versions.
-Protagonists
From the show? No. From the games? Yes, especially if we can go to the other continents. Having the ability to fight Red, Blue, Green, Gold, Silver, Kris, Brendan, May, Dawn, and Lucas at the height of their potential would be simply AMAZING.
-HM Usage
Meh, it only gets annoying when there's a lot of repetition to do in one small area. It's been improved since Red/Blue/Green/Yellow, at least. I'd actually like the ability to remove HM moves without visiting the Move Deleter instead.
-Streamlined Battles
Not something I have a problem with, unless there are two or more battle conditions active.
-Wild Pokemon Variety
While I agree with this, do remember that it's supposed to simulate a natural environment and to encourage exploration. Flora and fauna don't change drastically over small differences, so why should the Pokemon games be any different? If you don't like it, then Cut and Repel are your friends.
-Trainer Pokemon Variety
Yes, definitely. Especially in the Gyms. I'd like the Fire Gym Leader to have one non-Fire type to completely screw with the strategy once in a while, or, more ideally, have more Gym Leaders like Blue from Gold/Silver/Crystal. Same with the standard trainers; give the Hikers more than Fighting and Rock Pokemon, etc.
-Balance Elemental Weaknesses
They're already balanced. Your issue comes more from stats rather than from elemental modifiers. Besides, some Pokemon can survival one Super-Effective hit if their corresponding defense stat is high enough (or, in the case of Blissey and other tanks, HP).
-Fainting
It's here to add strategy to the game, namely that of restraint. Besides, how can you code in the ability to capture a defeated enemy without making the mechanic (a) repetitive and annoying for EVERY enemy and (b) easy enough to call up? Once the battle ends, the battle processing ends, returning the player back to the map. How can you call up the function to do so when the defeated Pokemon no longer exists?
-Trade Evolution
Again, this ties into the point of having the versions in the first place: social interaction (or buying more than one copy of the game/system). And, typically, you'll be trading with your friends and just trading back, anyway. Yeah, the NPC's Pokemon's nicknames suck, but you do have the option to not trade with them.
Well, those are my ideas and comments, mixed in with yours.
-Full 3D World
The series might be taking steps in that direction if 4th gen is any indication, but I'd rather have stylized sprites rather than a game in full 3D that'll only look crappy in five years. Besides, the Pokemon games already do have some openendedness in terms of sidequests, albeit not a lot. Remember that the games need to be accessible; making it more like a sandbox does not necessarily make it so, especially for the younger players.
-Character Customization
I agree, but the main focus for me is the customization of my team, not my character. I could care less about how the hero looks.
-Elemental Starters
How about not? Rock-, Steel-, and Ghost-types would be horrible overpowered due to their strengths against Normal attacks. At the very least, I'd like to see what Platinum did and change the starter's type from singular to dual--but no more damn Fire/Fighting Starters.
-Real Time Battles
What's wrong with turn-based? It adds more strategy and allows for item and skill management, rather than just spam your strongest attacks. Well, the spamming is still true now, but I blame the horrible Trainer rosters for that...
-Rivals
I agree on this. Or, at the very least, make the rival(s) more three-dimensional. Put in a character that hates you or something.
-Hobos
No.
-Difficulty Settings
Yes. Very much wanted.
-New Continent
I'd prefer the ability to go to every continent more than this, actually. And making all the Pokemon available in one game defeats the whole purpose of the versions.
-Protagonists
From the show? No. From the games? Yes, especially if we can go to the other continents. Having the ability to fight Red, Blue, Green, Gold, Silver, Kris, Brendan, May, Dawn, and Lucas at the height of their potential would be simply AMAZING.
-HM Usage
Meh, it only gets annoying when there's a lot of repetition to do in one small area. It's been improved since Red/Blue/Green/Yellow, at least. I'd actually like the ability to remove HM moves without visiting the Move Deleter instead.
-Streamlined Battles
Not something I have a problem with, unless there are two or more battle conditions active.
-Wild Pokemon Variety
While I agree with this, do remember that it's supposed to simulate a natural environment and to encourage exploration. Flora and fauna don't change drastically over small differences, so why should the Pokemon games be any different? If you don't like it, then Cut and Repel are your friends.
-Trainer Pokemon Variety
Yes, definitely. Especially in the Gyms. I'd like the Fire Gym Leader to have one non-Fire type to completely screw with the strategy once in a while, or, more ideally, have more Gym Leaders like Blue from Gold/Silver/Crystal. Same with the standard trainers; give the Hikers more than Fighting and Rock Pokemon, etc.
-Balance Elemental Weaknesses
They're already balanced. Your issue comes more from stats rather than from elemental modifiers. Besides, some Pokemon can survival one Super-Effective hit if their corresponding defense stat is high enough (or, in the case of Blissey and other tanks, HP).
-Fainting
It's here to add strategy to the game, namely that of restraint. Besides, how can you code in the ability to capture a defeated enemy without making the mechanic (a) repetitive and annoying for EVERY enemy and (b) easy enough to call up? Once the battle ends, the battle processing ends, returning the player back to the map. How can you call up the function to do so when the defeated Pokemon no longer exists?
-Trade Evolution
Again, this ties into the point of having the versions in the first place: social interaction (or buying more than one copy of the game/system). And, typically, you'll be trading with your friends and just trading back, anyway. Yeah, the NPC's Pokemon's nicknames suck, but you do have the option to not trade with them.
Well, those are my ideas and comments, mixed in with yours.
