SEED: So, you will go? Please take Rika with you.
ALYS: Who is this girl anyway? She seems curiously knowledgeable about these matters...
SEED: She is...my child.
Like Myau compendium doesn’t give us a genre for seed so we can’t be sure it is a mistranslation or not. In Overseas version of Phantasy Star IV Rika mention Seed as a male.
Phantasy Star IV wrote:RIKA: Yes, unfortunately so. ...If you want to know more, talk to
'Seed'. He's over there.
ALYS: 'Seed'?
(The group proceeds in to speak with Seed.)
ALYS: So, where's this person called Seed?
RIKA: He's right in front of you.
ALYS: What's going on?
SEED: I am 'Seed', the control computer for this Bio-plant.
…however that indication of male genre is many times used for the only purpose of making us surprised when meet that unknown person or thing:
Indiana Jones III wrote:Donovan: (Overlapping) Don't worry. Doctor Schneider will be there to meet you.
Brody: (Overlapping) Schneider?
Donovan: (Overlapping) I maintain an apartment in Venice, at your disposal.
Brody: Oh, well. That's good. Thank you.
Indy: Ah, Venice...
Brody: Yes. Uh, how will we recognize this Doctor Schneider when we see him?
Indy: I don't know. Maybe he'll know us.
Suddenly a woman comes up to him. Attractive features. Blonde hair. Eyes that are bright and intelligent.
Elsa: Doctor Jones?
Indy: Yes?
Elsa: I knew it was you-
All “AI” or “Artificial Life Form” in PSIV are not only subordinated to Wren but also females (namely Gene, Demi and Rika and newmans in general). In Phantasy Star Universe, although an ALF, Seed is also represented with female characteristics. It also seems that Japanese nouns have no grammatical number, gender or article aspect.
So, what’s your opinion about this? Do you think Seed was meant to be a male or female character?