Nintendo Panasonic Q

Shortly after the release of the Nintendo Game Cube, the Panasonic Corporation and the Nintendo Corporation joined forces to create the Panasonic Q Multimedia Console. This Panasonic unit was basically a Nintendo Game Cube that is capable of playing not only the standard Game Cube games but also DVDs, MP3s, CDs, as well as audio CDs. There was also several other features that were available for the Panasonic Q, since this system was considered an upgrade of the standard Game Cube, which did not have a DVD playback capability.

While Nintendo's competition was already featuring DVD playback capabilities, Nintendo was forced to release this unit in 2001 at a price of $440. Now once again, the system came about due to a brokered contract by the Nintendo Corporation. What happened as a result of this brokering was that Nintendo had contracted one of the subsidiary corporations of Panasonic to create the optical drives for the Nintendo Game Cube and no sooner had the contract been signed, Panasonic began producing their multimedia console that could play Game Cube games.

This gaming console featured a backlit LCD screen, a disc tray that was frontloading, Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound, and all of this was placed on a magnificent stainless steel chassis. This unit was capable of having the Game Cube’s add-ons installed; however, due to the fact that the legs at the bottom of the unit were excessively long, a special Game Boy Player had to be designed for it. This specialized Game Boy player was known as the Panasonic Q Game Boy Player.

Due to very low sales, the Panasonic Corporation had to cease all production of their Panasonic Q in 2003. The major contribution to these low sales was that the Nintendo Game Cube had now been able to include a DVD player. This second generation of the Nintendo Game Cube was also cheaper than the Panasonic Q and due to the fact that Nintendo was a more popular choice for purchase, a Panasonic unit would not be able to compete.

Nowadays, the Panasonic Q is considered a collectable item. Most of the last sales of the Panasonic Q system were made by those who are serious collectors in the video gaming industry.