I think if they would have brought the Q stateside, they would have seen a lot more revenue.

While most people (younger age, not to be cliche) would probably have stuck to the standard cube looks, I'm willing to bet there are a large number of gamers, mostly older, with their own choice of entertainment center schemes, that would have purchased the Q - and of course, didn't import because of the outrageous costs, or they just didn't know about it.

Of course, this is the case for a LOT of Japanese items, game-related and not. (And alternatively, a lot of Japanese items that just need to stay over there )
We're just as quirky as them, and while the Q wouldn't have made the most significant impact versus the standard Cube design... who, with their own free choice, WOULDN'T want a shiny, mirrored Q to play their cube games? That thing is just slick-looking, no matter how you slice it.

I bet the younger dudes would flock to the hip looking Q if it came to the US. Too bad most don't know what it is....stupid Panasonic...

lol, I find it funny how everyone is recording losses except the videogame companies....
Nintendo may not be doing well compared to last year, but it still scored a $500 million+ net profit, while these huge (well Nintendo is huge too...) companies like Matsushita are posting 100 million dollar losses.....

So, why is the videogame industry getting bigger in a time where everything else is getting smaller? Do people rely on their copies of GTA to comfort them while they lose their jobs? Blame the pedestrians!