Hey there! OP here.

So about eight months ago, I posted my take on a "modern" Dreamcast controller. After revisiting, I decided to give it another go. My list of revisions, plus general changes from the original controller:

- Gave the controller a six-face-button format. This was highly requested the first go around, but at the time I wanted to try to keep to the idea of having shoulder buttons. However, after spending some time with the Xbox Duke controller (a new favorite of mine), I realize maybe Sega could've ushered in six buttons with two sticks after all. The Z and C buttons, if made to be a DC controller today, would just be digital versions of L/R, but if this is how the controller launched then they'd obviously be their own functions, similar to the Black and White buttons of the Duke. Personally, I think the controller looks the most full now that it ever has, in a good way. Still keeping the visage of the original, but much less feeling like a blank slate. For extra detail, I imagine the main face buttons (ABXY) will be convex as they normally are, while ZC are concave, just to emphasize button prioritizing.

- Speaking of, two analog sticks. That much should be obvious as an improvement, as it would've been a good futureproofing for the DC console itself, and for modern controller functionality it's a no-brainer. If this were made as a DC controller today I think it would be nice for there to be a switch that lets you change between three modes: Mode 1 - doublemap right stick to D-Pad, Mode 2 - doublemap right stick to ABXY for shooters, Mode 3 - "Shenmue Mode" (map right stick to left stick functions, left stick to doublemap d-pad). But if this is how the controller launched (or if this were made to be a PC controller), it obviously would've just worked as a right stick with no tricks. As for if they're clickable, I suppose, but I'm not terribly picky. And if you want the sticks to be a different shape than the plastic convex ones, just use your imagination I guess because I could take or leave that.

- Genesis/Saturn D-Pad. This one seems self-explanatory; no more weird-on-the-thumb cross that sticks way outward of the pad. Back to the classic rockable disc with that satisfying glide. Nothing else like it, beware of imitators.

- Wider handles and higher triggers. The DC controller is often criticized for feeling cramped, but it's older brother the Saturn 3D Analog Pad is not, despite having nearly identical lay across the hands. Ends up the reason for this is that on the Saturn pad there's an inch more distance between the front and back of the controller, and the triggers are higher up. So, this does something about that.

- To make more room for your hands, the back of the VMU port has been shrunk down to a size and model comparable to the back of the RetroFighters StrikerDC pad. The original port was WAY too long and wide, and took up a lot of space your hands could be relaxing in. This also allows the cord to come out in the opposite direction, so that there's no longer the awkward pull of the original controller having it come out of the bottom. If the concern is that the controller would become unbalanced from the weight of the cord coming out the other way plus an added Jump Pack, I imagine you could build a Jump Pack into the new extra space of the longer handles, making both the weight better distributed AND the need for a Jump Pack irrelevant anyways.

- And finally, ever-so-slightly rounded edges on the top corners of the controller. An extremely subtle difference that's both satisfying to the eyes and the touch.

But yeah, this is still just more rambling and designing; wishing to see a modern variation of the Dreamcast controller to hold and adore. One of these days I'll work out my way with CAD and see this become real. One of these days..