what are the chances second-generation xbox consoles will be redesigned along with the controller? there are few xbox games that i love, but the current console design doesn't go well with the rest of my equipment. also, the controller is a little uncomfortable for me since i have small hands.

would i have to wait for a "xbox 2" before a redesign is possible?

Slim to none that the console will be redesigned (externally anyway) in the near future. However, I've heard that the Japanese X-box controller is being released over hear and that it is a good deal smaller than the U.S. one. Most mags and sites I've read have said it's much better than the U.S. one anyway.

Much better is subjective, but yeah, I'd say the smaller one is better for smaller hands. Personally I love the big controller.

I hope they never change the controller's size. I think the controller is just right!

If the Japanese controller comes out, it will just be on shelve in addition to the U.S. one, it wouldn't be a total replacement. I think MS is stupid if they don't bring it out with all the people bitching about the U.S. controller. It's at least 50-50 love-hate with the U.S. controller. You have to factor out the fanboys, as they wouldn't admit to anything being wrong with their system, just like GC fanboys won't admit that the Z-trigger and D-pad suck on the GC controller.

I like the GCN pad as well. It can be very comfortable. My hand does cramp up slightly after long periods, but I guess that's a message that I'm playing too long.

Call For Help (on Tech TV) did a thing on 3rd party controlers and they were saying that the Mad Catz controller for Xbox was better for people who felt the Msoft controller was too big.

The Japanese one looks to be the perfect. Maybe Microsoft will make them an option in the US as well.

my friend had a mad catz controller for the PSX, and i never liked the feel. i didn't feel solid like the original sony controller. i'm going to stick with first-party controllers.

Whoa cool I thought I was the only one who watched locker gnome , even though I never have time to anymore.

About the console, I remember seeing on another forum (can't remember the name at this point because its gone now I think) on how people were modifying their Dreamcast shells to look different. Some of them were wicked!! This might be too far a stretch and more work than what you want, but try modifying your console shell to suit your needs(which would of course void the warranty) but I'd love to see what people can do. If you or someone else does indeed modify their X-Box Shell, please post pics .

BTW, there's a cool FAQ on IGN on how to change the power light on the DC console from RED to BLUE. It looks pretty sweet when its done (not that I've done it but the pics they posted were cool!)

I agree

I think the controller size is great. I like the solid feel.

I don't own an Xbox, but I have played one in the store and at a friend's place. I have pretty big hands(very long fingers) and I think my problems with it isn't the size but the shape. I don't like how it is very convex in the middle of the controller, just feels weird to me. That and the four buttons are two small and close together to be distinguishable to my rather wide thumb, although I've found the gamecube controller is guilty of this as well albeit to a lesser extent. Lastly, what's with the D-pad? It felt really mushy to me and I couldn't tell which direction I was pushing. I still think the best controller ever was the Playstation Dual Analog controller(NOT the Dual Shock). It had longer handles which made it alot easier to grip(although the analog sticks stank in comparison to the Dual Shocks), but it also didn't have the shock mechanism. I think Xbox controller is a good start, and from the pics I've seen, the Japanese controller seems to remedy some of the problems I have with it.