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[Skel1ingt0n]

I love the Dreamcast. Probably my third favorite system after the original Xbox and the N64. Was getting it out of my closet this weekend and doing an inventory of my games/accessories, as I have an OSSC that I ordered arriving any day now. Anyway, I'm showing my wife some of the items and I point out the VMU, and the first thing she asks is "why is the cord on the bottom?"

Now, I know it's strange. Always have. From the moment I used that strange in-store kiosk. But I did not have an answer for "why" it was like that. I assume it was just to give room to the VMU. Probably a non-starter.

But that got me thinking. Yeah, it has the VMU, but holy hell does any controller feel more *hollow?* It just has this really huge, protruding dual-slot expansion on the top. The Xbox followed suit, but it wasn't quite as striking.

And the D-Pad sucked on the DC controller. It's awful. Which is especially strange considering the Saturn pad that came before is universally hailed as one of the best.

And then it only had one joystick. Maybe this was just a result of it coming to market a tiny hair too soon? Had it baked for even a year longer, it would have been clear that dual-sticks was the future, especially as all three consoles to immediately followed went this direction. But they did decide to keep only four face buttons instead of six.

***

A bit odd, right?

 

[jasminlovesyoux]

I liked the controller quite a bit and it felt nice to hold and pull the triggers. But I think it's design definitely suffered from coming out in-between generations. So certain aspects of the design were held back such as dual analogs.

I do agree that without the vmu it felt very hollow and light. But man, the vmu was a pretty cool idea even though it's battery life sucked.

 

[antitrop]

The controller was pretty much the only reason the PS1 versions of Tony Hawk 1 and 2 were still preferable to the excellent DC ports.

Playing Jet Set Radio on PC with a dual-analog controller was a revelation, I had horrible memories of mashing the trigger to constantly reset the camera on Dreamcast.

 

[selfnoise]

I always liked that triangle start button. Can't say why.

 

[Stoop Man]

The hollow feeling comes from the lack of a rumble feature. It doesn't have those big ol' weights to spin! The buttons feel a little cheaper than its contemporaries, too.

 

[oneida]

i blame it for VF3tb's "black sheep" reputation. that game rules but controls like shit on DC pad

 

[dragonzdogma]

I dunno,
but that UMV (that's what it was called?) memory card battery lasted a day only.

I never could never play the mini games it would import.

Hey! I just had an idea- make a Topic about which UMV game were the best.

 

[jluedtke]

I think they were considering it a revision of the Saturn analog controller:

They just dropped two face buttons and hollowed it out for the VMU port.

I didn't hate it, but it sure could've used another analog stick.

 

[Cels]

yea the single stick choice was weird. ps1 had its dual analog controller released in 1997!

 

[Vlade]

after I learned to hold it properly to play soul calibur (thumb under the front of the controller and fingers on top like an arcade cabinet), I love it.

why? probably because vmu. the first gamepad.

 

[Laws00]

cord at the bottom, why not the top?

Strange how they had that notch on the back of the controller to hold it.

 

[2blackcats]

The controller was pretty much the only reason the PS1 versions of Tony Hawk 1 and 2 were still preferable to the excellent DC ports.

Playing Jet Set Radio on PC with a dual-analog controller was a revelation, I had horrible memories of mashing the trigger to constantly reset the camera on Dreamcast.

I actually started with Tony 2 on Dreamcast but yeah, there was no going back once I played 3 on PS2. Ended up getting adapters for my Xbox so I could use PS2 pads.


Agree that it felt cheap and hollow but I don't ever remember getting annoyed with it or anything and who didn't love the VMUs?

 

[NOLA_Gaffer]

Why do people get so bent out of shape over the cord coming out of the bottom of the controller almost 20 years later?

 

[sixteen-bit]

The 3D NiGHTS controller for Saturn felt like a better version of the DC controller, it's wild.

 

[mattwhite924]

The lack of six face buttons is even weirder when you compare it to its predecessor.

Though honestly, I can't stand either of those controllers. The shape causes me crazy hand cramps.

 

[GuitarAtomik]

I think it was a combo of being in that weird mid spot kicking off the next gen a little early slot, and making room for the VMU(s). Definitely an argument there that they should have seen the dual stick standard coming, but keep in mind it had only released in Japan a year after the original dual shock in Japan, and that the PS2 didn't hit Japan until a little over a year after that. That in between time was a weird one for dual stick support.

 

[digita1alchemy]

I don't know, but playing racing games with analog triggers was a revelation for me at the time. Hours upon hours spent with Sega GT, Test Drive Le Mans and F355 Challenge.

 

[Zee-Row]

The DC controller is one of the worst controllers ever made. It’s so uncomfortable to hold.

 

[dan2026]

WHY IS THE CORD ON THE BOTTOM!?

 

[Stormblessed]

It's very much a product of its time. The use of the second stick for the camera wasn't standard yet, for example, so making the choice to go with one (for moving) like the N64 before it wouldn't stand out so much.

 

[jwhit28]

It was bad for 2D fighting games. Sega released a controller that was bad for 2D fighting games. MvC2 and SF3 on Dreamcast made me start to learn fightstick.

 

[Shadow Hog]

Really wish they had added C and Z buttons like the Genesis (six-button) and Saturn did, tbh. Was kind of weird for the controller to have two less buttons than its contemporaries (albeit PlayStation had them as extra triggers).

I know some Dreamcast arcade sticks implement C and Z, but as far as I know they're actually just L and R, but with different names.

Beyond that, the D-Pad being kinda naff also sucked (especially given the incredible Model 2 Saturn D-Pad), but most games used the analog stick, so no huge loss. That said, I swear my thumb slipped off that analog stick more often than with other controllers... Second analog stick would've been nice, but then this was around the time when game designers hadn't standardized using the second analog for camera control, so I don't think it'd have helped that much (though it'd have made using the controller for FPSes better, perhaps, than the Turok-style controls most went with).

Lastly: turn the controller upside-down and it looks like a cute little devil. Saw that pointed out in a contemporary UK Nintendo magazine by a Nintendo fanboy, and even as a Sega fanboy, I thought it was amusing.

 

[LukasTaves]

Easily the worst part of the console.

No dual analogs, the cord at the bottom, the overall grip was good, but the controller was a nightmare for fighting games)

 

[jasminlovesyoux]

I think they were considering it a revision of the Saturn analog controller:

They just dropped two face buttons and hollowed it out for the VMU port.

I didn't hate it, but it sure could've used another analog stick.

This is actually my favorite controller of all time. Loved the perfect dpad, loved 6 face buttons across, triggers felt great, and although the 3d "stick" was a quite a bit different I got very used to it and loved it all the same.

 

[chronic_archaic]

I like the dpad - it's not tactile at all but it has a feel I like - think a good version of the 360 dpad and you'd be right. It's a little odd to hold but I always like playing Dreamcast.

 

[SatoAilDarko]

It's light because it was supposed to have a VMU and rumble pack and still be comfortable to hold.

The wire from the bottom is weird.

The original Wii Classic Controller did that too. But with the notches on the back it can be assumed what Nyko did with the Classic Grip was something Nintendo thought to make themselves.

 

[Refreshment.01]

Anyway, I'm showing my wife some of the items and I point out the VMU, and the first thing she asks is "why is the cord on the bottom?"

Now, I know it's strange. Always have. From the moment I used that strange in-store kiosk. But I did not have an answer for "why" it was like that. I assume it was just to give room to the VMU. Probably a non-starter.

More or less you answered the question. It comes from the bottom because the front of the console has the void space for the 2 accesory slots. However, there's an indentation in the lower part to slot the cable into so it bends towards the front part of the controller.

But that got me thinking. Yeah, it has the VMU, but holy hell does any controller feel more *hollow?* It just has this really huge, protruding dual-slot expansion on the top. The Xbox followed suit, but it wasn't quite as striking.

Feels hollow for cost saving measures in this case by saving on rumble motors for feedback encouraging accesory sales. The slots are inspired by the N64 modularity and Sega had planned a lot of accesories for the controller, some of them came to the market like the microphone.

The 2 slots on the Xbox controller are due to MS been mostly clueless about control design at that time. Main accesory for it would be the Mic for online chat as memory cards weren't integral for Xbox games.

And the D-Pad sucked on the DC controller. It's awful. Which is especially strange considering the Saturn pad that came before is universally hailed as one of the best.

It was cheapily made and indeed the Dpad "sucked" not only in terms of feel but build quyality also.

And then it only had one joystick. Maybe this was just a result of it coming to market a tiny hair too soon? Had it baked for even a year longer, it would have been clear that dual-sticks was the future, especially as all three consoles to immediately followed went this direction. But they did decide to keep only four face buttons instead of six.

***

1 stick was a conscient decision. Even from as early as the N64 it was obvious a second stick was going to be used for camera control. Sega just wanted a cheap controller that was simple. although to their credit most games at that time worked rather well within the limitations of a 1 stick controller.

Another thing you forgot to mention is the ergonomics of the controller. Due to it's circular shape it forced the users hand a bit inward causing wrist strain after extended play sessions.

With all that said, lovely triggers taught. Liked the Saturn 3D pad a lot also.

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

It was a great controller. It seems yall think every controller that was a dual analog was weird. Dreamcast controller was fine and very comfortable

 

[Jubenhimer]

I find the Dreamcast controller surprisingly comfortable given it's odd shape. I do agree the D-pad is trash though. I'm also not the biggest fan of the analog stick, it feels like a weird cross between the N64 and PS1 sticks. As for why it dropped the C and Z buttons from the Saturn. I think Sega wanted to make the Dreamcast more simple for the mainstream and the old six button configuration was seen as too complicated. That being said, the weirdness of the controller lives on somewhat through this thing.

And this.

 

[jwhit28]

The wire coming out of the bottom of classic controllers is because it plugs in a Wii remote likely sitting in your lap.

 

[Blues1990]

It's weird how the Xbox Duke Controller feels like a natural evolution of the Dreamcast controller.

 

[Speely]

Hasn't even reached its final form yet.

 

[rudger]

The lack of six face buttons is even weirder when you compare it to its predecessor.

Though honestly, I can't stand either of those controllers. The shape causes me crazy hand cramps.

I adore this controller. Been using the same one for 20 years now. The Start button just started to be a pain though and requires a real heavy press to register.

Really boggles my mind what they were thinking with the Dreamcast. Why would they use fewer buttons and make the d-pad, analogue triggers and analogue stick worse?! And they put the cord on the bottom, made it tighter and more uncomfortable for long sessions...just terrible compared to what they had.

 

[RRockman]

The only thing that was off was the dpad, but I still had fun playing Guilty Gear X on it.

 

[Mr-Joker]

Because Sega saw into the future and knew that the Dreamcast controller is the perfect shape for a boat which would be the bases for AGES boat transformation.

 

[MrCunningham]

I think they were considering it a revision of the Saturn analog controller:

They just dropped two face buttons and hollowed it out for the VMU port.

I didn't hate it, but it sure could've used another analog stick.

Basically this combined with this...

Yeah, basically Sega was doing what they could to make this console look more appealing world wide. Tamagotchi was a huge fad thing, and they tried to get in on that with the VMU, as it could also be used to play games on as well. One of the features in Sonic Adventure was the Chao garden, and you could transfer those chao's to the VMU and kinda play it like a Tamagotchi game. An interesting feature that you won;t see in any other version of Sonic adventure. Though I think VMU's can be emulated.

The Dreamcast pad was Sega's attempt at trying to streamline the Saturn 3D pad.

 

[bionic77]

Wasn't the best controller but that said it felt to me at the time.

Not sure why they didn't put in a second stick.

 

[sbkodama]

I still really like its shape and analog triggers, but the lack of right stick really hurt in shenmue.

 

[Z3M0G]

Because of this?

World wasn't ready...

 

[The Albatross]

I find the Dreamcast controller surprisingly comfortable given it's odd shape. I do agree the D-pad is trash though. I'm also not the biggest fan of the analog stick, it feels like a weird cross between the N64 and PS1 sticks. As for why it dropped the C and Z buttons from the Saturn. I think Sega wanted to make the Dreamcast more simple for the mainstream and the old six button configuration was seen as too complicated. That being said, the weirdness of the controller lives on somewhat through this thing.



And this.

How is the Xbox One X controller weird? Pretty standard, practical layout it seems.

 

[Zizbuka]

Second worst 'mainstream' controller ever made, outdone only by the N64 controller. I would've played both consoles much more if not for the hand aches. Luckily, emulation has resolved that these days.

 

[Duxxy3]

3d controller evolved into the dreamcast controller. Dreamcast evolved into the xbox controller. Xbox controller evolved into the S controller. S controller evolved into the 360 controller. 360 controller evolved into the XB1 s controller.

So the dreamcast controller was weird, but it was worth it. Got two excellent controllers out of it.

 

[sechsterangriff]

The cord on the back was mostly because the front space for memory card and rumble pack.

I actually find the shape itself very comfortable. Though I never understood why they didn't go for a second analog stick (it's not like the DualShock wasn't already a thing) and why they went cheap with the thumbstick.

The original Xbox controller eventually became what the Dreamcast controller should have been.

 

[jett]

It's pretty bad. It's a combination of terrible ideas.

I would also say that it popularizing analog triggers was a net-loss. Outside of racers, almost nothing takes advantage of analog triggers. Instead of gaining anything of worth we lost two regular, immediately responsive buttons. At least Nintendo seems to have abandoned analog triggers.

 

[Hilbert]

Private controller screen...man, I am still waiting for that to come back. Great idea, not yet realized to it's full potential.

 

[Daingurse]

The DC controller is one of the worst controllers ever made. It’s so uncomfortable to hold.

It's always fit in my hands pretty good. It has a similar feel to the Xbox Controller S. The only problem I had with it was the D-pad digging into my thumb.

 

[elyetis]

Because of this?


World wasn't ready...

I was more than ready to play Virtua tennis only using this screen.

 

[Sapiens]

It was death for 2d fighters.

I was so happy to finally import this back in the day:

...but the d pad eventually wore out.

 

[Breakage]

It's a horrible pad (those thin handgrips), although back then it looked futuristic because of the VMU.

 

[vg260]

It has many design issues, but by far the worst part is how they designed the hand grips inward rather than outward, which was completely horrible in terms of ergonomics.

You don't comfortably hold something like that with your wrists inward.