Technically, the 3DO wasn't their console. The 3DO was an unusual video game console in that it wasn't manufactured by a first party. Panasonic were just one of several companies who were contracted by the 3DO Company to make the console. The others being GoldStar (Now known as LG) and Sanyo with Creative Technologies being responsible for the peripherals and many of the components inside. This meant there were several different versions of the console with different hardware branding, but there were all made to similar specifications. The 3DO Company itself founded by the founder of Electronic Arts Trip Hawkins and it was his company that was responsible for and would profit from software distribution, like a game publisher. The various companies that actually made the system would only see thier cut from the single hardware sale. In a way, the 3DO today looks less like a gaming console and more like a purpose built gaming PC, perhaps like one of those Steam Machines that were about a few years ago.
And that was whare the real problems with the 3DO started. The fact the console had some advanced tech' for the time and that the manufacturers had to profit from the hardware sale is what made the system so expensive. It did have stand out graphics and some great ports of games like Wing Commander 3 that included almost DVD quality FMV, but it wasn't worth the price compared to it's rivals. A shame because I actually think it was a good system.