Dreamcast Controller Variants
The Sega Dreamcast controller with the cord coming out from the bottom instead of the top, (which you can clip into a small cutout at the back of the controller), the large cut-out for the VMU and its futuristic spaceship design is at first glance is immediately recognizable, iconic even. Like the VMUs, the controllers had many different variations, in fact they usually paralled the VMU variations. This page will closely follow the structure of the VMU and Console pages with the rarity index, model number, original MSRP and a few comments about the controller itself. The variations in packaging will be in another, seperate page. This page will also mainly focus on Western Dreamcast controllers and their Japanese counterparts will probably be in a seperate page.
Standard White VMU (NTSC)
Sharing the same color as the basic console and VMU, the plain white VMU is by far the most common version of the Dreamcast's memory card found in the wild. North American and Japanese Sega Dreamcast controllers have a reddish-orange swirl (see image), This white controller is fairly prone to yellowing due to the composition of the plastic and the plastic itself being vulnerable to age and UV light. Despite being considered "North American" models, they all have the exact same back, unlike their VMU counterparts, showing their Japanese counterpart's back. Bearing the HKT-7700 model numbers and no FCC marking. However that being said, reddish-orange swirl Dreamcast controllers have been found with "Made in Japan" and "Made in China" markings, a regional differentiator perhaps?
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Model Number:MK-50100 Price:$29.95
Standard White VMU (PAL)
Virtually identical to the NTSC Controllers, the PAL Dreamcast controllers have one unique difference, like the consoles, they too possess the blue swirl (see image). Other than this, they do not have any differences at all. Despite being considered "European" models, every Dreamcast controller has the exact same back, unlike their VMU counterparts, showing their Japanese counterpart's back. Bearing the HKT-7700 model numbers. However that being said, European Dreamcast controllers do have one distinct thing about them, they seem to all be "Made in Indonesia".
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Model Number:MK-55120 Price:£19.99—59.95 DM
North American Clear Colored Controllers
North American Dreamcast fans were able to pick from 5 clear colored controllers available to them sometime in the year 2000. These controllers had a colored face piece and the standard Dreamcast controller grey back, this mixed with the VMU "window" and the grey analog stick and d-pad, gives these clear controllers a distinctly North American "two-tone" look. The plug was also the standard white plug. They cost the same price as the standard white controller at $29.95. It is important to note that the terms "Passion Red, Atlantic Blue, Jungle Green, Solar Yellow and Smoke Grey" are later fan variants and not what Sega officially them on the packaging.
Clear Blue Controller
Formally known as "Clear Blue", the transparent Blue Controller is another uniquely North American controller color. The Blue controller comes in at a darker, less turquoise shade of blue than the Japanese "Aqua Blue" Millennium 2000 controller. It is a matching set with the Blue VMU commonly found in North America as well as the special "US Blue" VMU found in Japan.
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Model Number:MK-50101 Price:$29.95
Clear Green Controller
Formally known as "Clear Green", the transparent Green Dreamcast controller seems to match the tone of the "Lime Green" Millennium 2000 (author's note, I will attempt to track down a copy of this controller to confirm or deny this statement). This controller is a matching set with the Green North American VMU.
Rarity Score:
Model Number:MK-50102 Price:$29.95
Clear Red Controller
The "Clear Red" Controller is the transparent red variant of the Sega Dreamcast controller available only in North America, Japan never got a red controller with this specific tone. It is a matching set with the Red VMU commonly found in North America as well as the special "US Red" VMU found in Japan.
Rarity Score:
Model Number:MK-50103 Price:$29.95
Clear Yellow Controller
The rarest of the North American Controllers, the Yellow Controller, formally known as "Clear Yellow". It is a matching set with the equally rare Clear Yellow VMU. This color was the only color that wasn't available in Japan for purchase.
Rarity Score:
Model Number:MK-50104 Price:$29.95
Clear Charcoal Controller
The transparent Grey controller has a naming issue, it is either "Charcoal" or "Clear Grey" or even "Anthracite", these are all terms used to describe this specific controller color. The Clear Grey controller is of the same plastic as the Japanese Millennium 2000 controller with two minor differences, first the plug, the North American model has a standard white plug. Secondly, the Millennium 2000 controller has a transparent back while the North American model doesn't have this, it has the standard grey back. It is also notable for being the only standard North American "Clear" controller not to be available for purchase on Dreamarena in Europe.
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Model Number:MK-50105 Price:$29.95
European DreamArena-Exclusive Controllers
Only available on Sega of Europe's online DreamArena, Sega's free online gaming service available to all European Dreamcast owners who had an internet connection. These controllers were available to European Gamers in 4 colors in the year 2000. Being purchaseable on the Dreamarena's 'Dreamshop' or 'www.sega-europe.com' and were only made in limited quantities. They differed slightly from the North American variations mentionned above by the fact they had the blue swirl and a clear-white back. They, however, like their North American counterparts did not have a colored plug, instead having the standard white plug. The box is also the same as the standard PAL boxes however they included a sticker at the back with a colored part with "Clear (color)".
Dreamarena Blue Controller
This Dreamarena-exclusive controller was only available in Europe on the online Dreamarena, the controller shares the same plastic color as the standard "Aqua Blue" Japanese controllers which are more turquoise and are a lighter color than the "Clear Blue" controllers available in North America. It is widely believed that this color is the rarest of the DreamArena set however, in my experience, I've seen every color but Orange be claimed as such.
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Model Number:MK-55101 Price:£19.99
Dreamarena Green Controller
This Dreamarena-exclusive controller was only available in Europe on the online Dreamarena, the controller shares the same plastic color as the standard "Lime Green" Japanese controllers and the North American "Clear Green" controllers.
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Model Number:MK-55102 Price:£19.99
Dreamarena Orange Controller
This Dreamarena-exclusive controller was only available in Europe on the online Dreamarena, the controller doesn't have the North American "Clear Red" color instead it has a more orange color making it closer to the orange Chu Chu Rocket or the Resident Evil Code: Veronica controllers (both of which are of different orange colors). Officially known as "Clear Orange".
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Model Number:MK-55103 Price:£19.99
Dreamarena Yellow Controller
This Dreamarena-exclusive controller was only available in Europe on the online Dreamarena, the controller shares the same plastic color as the standard "Clear Yellow" Dreamcast controllers available in North America. Unlike the North American Yellow controllers, there doesn't seem to be much difference in rarity between the Dreamarena controllers, however yellow could be considered the rarest of the set.
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Model Number:MK-55104 Price:£19.99
Sega Sports Black Controller (NA Only)
Coming bundled with the Black Sega Sports Dreamcast console, this North American exclusive controller has a distinct black look it, even the analog stick, start button and the d-pad which are typically light-grey on other controllers are the same black color. However, most immediately noticeable is the "Sega Sports" logo printed on the center of the controller which is also featured on the console. Another minor but unique detail is that the cable is black instead of the purple-grey that it usually is.
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Model Number:MK-50100 Price:Only Available with Sega Sports Console