Okay, I have to put my two cents on this. I actually really dislike the Dreamcast controller. I love the console to death; it's probably my favorite console in existance, but the controller is OVERRATED. It's a good idea, with bad execution IMO. The back of the controller is rammed right up against your fingers when you're holding it, the facebuttons for fighting games I think are spaced just a tiny bit too far apart and I think they should be raised just slightly. Also the analog stick is crap. Why in the hell did they not put some kind of rubber grip on it? And the D-Pad could be improved too. It's just very stiff and not nearly as easy to do sweep type moves, like on Street Fighter. Why did they change the Saturn/Genesis style for the d-pad?
My biggest gripe is that it just feels cheap and it's very cumbersome compared to other controllers. It functions fine, but damnit it just isn't comfortable or practical because the design in my opinion is just half assed. I understand they were trying to come up with a new idea, but why the hell did they have to make it feel so cheap? I'll give it credit for one thing though, I've had my friend throw my controller on the concrete ground in anger before and it still works. I've also dropped mine on accident numerous times. No problems at all with it, so I will say the shell and everything is built like a tank.
Having all that said..look at this.
Yep, the Saturn 3D pad. Look at the analog stick, button placement, and the dpad. Other than the VMU, doesn't the DC controller look like a dumbed down 3D pad in comparison?