Dreamcast-Talk.com

Some guy on reddit claims to of received a solid red controller from a former Sega of America Employee...

"My friend used to work for sega. And she passed her Dreamcast collection on to me. A few years back. I joined the group right after. But haven’t seen anyone else post something similar."

First Thread of the Red Controller
https://www.reddit.com/r/dreamcast/comm ... ontroller/

Updated Thread with pictures of the controller opened
https://www.reddit.com/r/dreamcast/comm ... ller_pics/

Not sure exactly what this is but it's not a prototype. It has a standard model number an FCC sticker which means it's a retail controller. I'd have to guess that it's custom.

An example of a real prototype is the one Bernie Stolar is holding in this picture. As you can see, even the start button isn't the same.

pcwzrd13 wrote:Not sure exactly what this is but it's not a prototype. It has a standard model number an FCC sticker which means it's a retail controller. I'd have to guess that it's custom.

An example of a real prototype is the one Bernie Stolar is holding in this picture. As you can see, even the start button isn't the same.
bernie.png

This could of been version 2.0 final of that red controller that never saw the light of day??? Maybe they were testing out the color way and it got scrapped due to Sega pulling out of the Hardware business???

pcwzrd13 wrote:I'd have to guess that it's custom.

That was my first thought but that absolutely looks like bare plastic, if it were painted the finish would be a little nicer. I have no trouble believing this is a genuine controller that just didn't release for whatever reason.

The prototype in that photo is a different thing altogether, this looks to have been made after the retail controller's design was already well established. My speculative guess is they were planning on some sort of release of this thing late in the Dreamcast's life before things really went under.

It's also possible that they had these manufactured and decided not to release based on some sort of QC concerns, maybe the plastic quality just didn't come out how they wanted it, or something. Again, just speculation. We may never really know what the story is without some real confirmation.

MondoGecko wrote:

pcwzrd13 wrote:I'd have to guess that it's custom.

That was my first thought but that absolutely looks like bare plastic, if it were painted the finish would be a little nicer. I have no trouble believing this is a genuine controller that just didn't release for whatever reason.

The prototype in that photo is a different thing altogether, this looks to have been made after the retail controller's design was already well established. My speculative guess is they were planning on some sort of release of this thing late in the Dreamcast's life before things really went under.

It's also possible that they had these manufactured and decided not to release based on some sort of QC concerns, maybe the plastic quality just didn't come out how they wanted it, or something. Again, just speculation. We may never really know what the story is without some real confirmation.

Exactly, you hit the nail right on the head...My question is if he is still in contact with the former Sega Employee and if we can get more information about the controller...everything has a story to tell

The only thing I see that's out of the ordinary is the top shell doesn't seem to have the date of manufacture (or whatever those markings mean) embossed in it compared to all the other controllers I came across. Tho I only have PAL models that were made in Indonesia, maybe that's why. PS: That's not my controller, so pointless telling me to clean it. =P

Tarnish wrote:The only thing I see that's out of the ordinary is the top shell doesn't seem to have the date of manufacture (or whatever those markings mean) embossed in it compared to all the other controllers I came across. Tho I only have PAL models that were made in Indonesia, maybe that's why.
ControllerTopShell.jpg
PS: That's not my controller, so pointless telling me to clean it. =P

Look closely, it's embossed next to the VMU window

MondoGecko wrote:

Tarnish wrote:The only thing I see that's out of the ordinary is the top shell doesn't seem to have the date of manufacture (or whatever those markings mean) embossed in it compared to all the other controllers I came across. Tho I only have PAL models that were made in Indonesia, maybe that's why.
ControllerTopShell.jpg
PS: That's not my controller, so pointless telling me to clean it. =P

Look closely, it's embossed next to the VMU window

The ABS part, yes, but not the round things with an arrow pointing at a number.

Usually, these markings are displaying the date the plastic part was made and the specific mold and possibly cavity it came from - so you know which tool needs inspection in case of rejects...