Let's see...
How would we break the commands down to a useful setup on a gamepad?
Let's use a typical setup you'll find almost anywhere.
4 direction cross-pad. (up/down/left/right)
1 joystick-type device.
4 Standard buttons on main surface. (A,B,C,D)
4 buttons on the side of the controller. (1,2,3,4: top left 1, top right 2, bottom left 3, bottom right 4)
And Select and Start of some sort.
Well we gotta fly the thing, so we'll give that to the joystick for steering.
Acelleration/Decelleration. Buttons 3/4.
Match speeds? Double tap 3.
Afterburner? Hold 3 and 4?
Dead stop? Double tap 4.
Fire primary. Button A
Fire Secondary. Button B
Target Select. 1 for hostile, 2 for friendly. (Both of them for New ship/bombs?)
Countermeasures: Button C
Shield quadrant / Energy Management. Toggle Button D
Direct energy to shield area goes to the arrowpad when it's active via toggle on button D.
Energy Management goes to Arrowpad as well when it's active via toggle on Button D.
Not that complicated really. I've seen games that require more out of you than this. I never really have to adjust energy except at the start of a mission (+1 to shields, -1 to gun energy) unless something happens and I need all shields/engines or guns. So that's not an issue.
Of course, for pitch and yaw, you would need that second joystick, but it's not really required.
And then you would have select which would bring up the Comms window where you would lose use of the arrowpad (to highlight what you want to say,) and the toggle button (to send that message.)
Anyone else have any ideas on what I'm missing here?