Consoles you got at launch versus ones you waited and got later

[wartoy]

At this time I was either to young or a struggling young adult These were acquired well after launch

Atari 2600
Odyssey 2
Intellivision
Colecovision
Nes
Genesis
Snes
Ps1
Sega cd
Saturn
Gameboy
Gameboy Color
Nomad
Turbo Grafix
Jaguar
Gba
32X
Vectrex
Virtual Boy
Neo Geo
3do
Lynx
Master System
Game Gear
Turbo Duo

At this time I was working so these were at or around launch

N64
Ps2
Dreamcast
Xbox
Ps3
Xbox 360
Gamecube
Wii
Wii U
Ps4
Xbox One
Ds
Ds light
3ds
Psp
Vita
Switch

[pacgamer89]

I only got the 3ds and wii u at launch. dreamcast and ps2 i got the christmas they came out and the gba and ds i got within a week of coming out.

[emporerdragon]

I got both the Wii and the Xbox One right near launch. Wii U was pretty close, but I can't really remember. None of them were really things I was super-hyped for, it was more of an "I'm here, it's in stock, and I've got enough for it." kind of thing. I have gotten quite a few special edition consoles at their specific launches though (Halo 3 & Halo Reach 360s and Pikachu 3DS XL), and with those, it was because I was upgrading from the base version anyways, so I might as well get a special one.

In any of the cases though, I don't regret getting them at launch, as I still put enough time into them that a price drop would be a moot point in terms of value.

[vivigamer]

I haven't before but the PS5 might be the 1st time I do.

The problem lays with my PS4, as the PS5 is backwards compatible with 99% of PS4 games, it will leave my PS4 redundant - Had that console utilised BC it would have use but if I can experience everything my PS4 has to offer on my PS5 - Why keep it?

So I have made a pre-order, I'm planning to trade in my PS4 Pro at launch and hopefully get a decent value off it - I fear if I do this say least 2021 the value of the PS4 PRO will drop further than the PS5's asking price.

I'm still a little apprehensive in buying 1st stock, of course there may be a PS5 Pro released later 2022 but am I really going to hold back on a new console until then - nope.

[betelgeuse]

I bought these at launch:
PS2, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One and Wii.

They were all preorders except for the Wii and PS2.

I wasn’t planning on getting a Wii at launch. I told myself if any are in stock on day 1, i’m buying it. I ended up getting the itch the night before release. I shot over to Bestbuy at around 4am on release day and was about 40 or so in line.

For the PS2 I remember working a double shift so I could have the day off at launch. Preorders weren’t really a thing at the time, so first come first serve. I was watching TV with my girlfriend around 6pm the night before. They showed a news clip of people lining up outside stores for the release. I told her, “I gotta go!!!” She thought I was crazy, but went with me. We passed by 15-20 stores with lines wrapped around the buildings. I finally ended up at Circuit City with only about 10 people in line (around 8pm). The people in line said they had 16 available. I told my girlfriend “I’m staying. Call your sister or take my keys if you want a ride home”. She took my car and brought back a sweatshirt and blanket. Her sister picked her up a little later. Circuit City forced you to buy 2 games at launch (one being Fantavision), if you  wanted the console. Ended up marrying the girl

[Flashback2012]

The most special launch for me was the Dreamcast one. 9.9.99. I was working at FuncoLand at the time and it was the first midnight launch I ever did as well as the first launch system I ever picked up. Of course I'm picking up the system with a couple of games...and for some reason Final Fantasy XIII w/the strategy guide. 

Was working at GameStop when the PS2, Xbox, and GameCube came out and worked all three midnight launches. All three of those systems ended up not working and required replacements. That, coupled with the atrocious launch of the XB360 and the RRoD REALLY soured me to any subsequent intentions of buying launch console systems. I'm pretty sure I picked up the Neo Geo Pocket Color at launch but didn't for other portables.

The last system I bought on launch was the Switch. I kinda regret getting it as I knew they'd put out a special edition system later (I REALLY wanted the Animal Crossing one) but BotW was amazing looking and I really REALLY wanted to play it.

Definitely sitting out the new ones coming out this year and when I do get them it'll be the ones with the optical drive. None of that discless nonsense for me! 

[weirdfeline]

I got my PS4 in April 2014 so not long after launch. That was pretty much the first time you could find them on shelves.

I may have gotten my GBA Christmas 2001? Not sure if it was 2001 or 2002..

[stealthrush]

SEGA Dreamcast on launch 9/9/99, and SEGA Saturn around launch.

other consoles like PS1 GC NDS PSP around the 1-2 years margin.

[pzeke]

After thinking about this some more, I believe I also got the Wii within its launch window, maybe similar to how I got the NDS Lite, although it was mainly by happenstance. I remember being at Sam's Club and coming across a friend who had a very odd-looking package–almost looked like a big plastic bubble–that had the console in it bundled with a game. At the time Sam's had a rather modest gaming section and they had set up some tables with these bundles on them—some had more than one game, others included some extra peripherals; I, however, got the last bundle with only one game, which was Twilight Princess. At the time, while interested, the Wii wasn't really on my radar, but just as with emporerdragon, it was one of those "I'm here, it's in stock, and I have the money, so why not" moments.

Lastly, just like the PS3 and PS4, the GameCube is another console I got very late—a whole decade and some change later, which effectively makes it the console I've waited the longest to get.

[ferraroso]

So far, the only consoles I got at launch were the Vita and the PS4.

Here in Japan, shops are distributing one online ticket for each client for a chance to preorder the PS5. If a person is selected, he or she will have the opportunity to preorder the console by the end of the month.
I got tickets from three stores and I'll wait and see. Even if I'm not lucky, I won't get mad as I actually don't have so much interest on the PS5 yet... Haha
Anyways, I think it's a fairer system than all the crazy shit we saw happening in the US recently...

[astralsoul]

At launch:
- Game Boy Advance - June 2001
- GameCube - Nov 2001
- Nintendo DS - Nov 2004
- Nintendo Wii U - Nov 2012
- Nintendo Switch - Mar 3, 2017

Later:
- NES - Christmas 1989 (4 years after launch)
- Game Boy - 1994 (5 years after launch)
- Super Nintendo - 1995 (4 years after launch)
- Nintendo 64 - Sep 1997 (1 year after launch)
- PlayStation - 2000 (5 years after launch)
- Xbox - 2002 (1 year after launch)
- Playstation 2 - 2003 (3 years after launch)
- Nintendo Wii - Christmas 2006 (1 month after launch)
- Playstation 3 - 2008 (2 years after launch)
- Sony PSP - 2009 (4 years after launch)
- Nintendo 3DS - Jun 2011 (3 months after launch)
- Playstation 4 - 2016 (3 years after launch)

Probably won't be getting anymore consoles at launch. There's just not enough time and games at launch and systems are too expensive. Plus with the rate of "Pro" and "Slim" models coming out I might as well wait for the upgrades. The few consoles I got at launch was just after I started working and driving myself places so I was able to get GBA and GCN at launch. And DS, Wii U and Swtich I was just super excited for and got them immediately. DS and Switch were preorders, the rest I just got lucky. Wii would've been a launch console for me as well but couldn't find one then, but got lucky a month later after Christmas.

[pzeke]

After thinking about this some more, I believe I also got the Wii within its launch window, maybe similar to how I got the NDS Lite, although it was mainly by happenstance. I remember being at Sam's Club and coming across a friend who had a very odd-looking package–almost looked like a big plastic bubble–that had the console in it bundled with a game. At the time Sam's had a rather modest gaming section and they had set up some tables with these bundles on them—some had more than one game, others included some extra peripherals; I, however, got the last bundle with only one game, which was Twilight Princess. At the time, while interested, the Wii wasn't really on my radar, but just as with emporerdragon, it was one of those "I'm here, it's in stock, and I have the money, so why not" moments.

Okay, scratch that! My Wii is post 2008, which definitely means I didn't get it around launch.

[throughtheiris56]

In recent memory, the console I brought closest to launch was the PS4 for xmas 2014 so about a year after it launched. I was very keen to get one so I didn't wait to long. However, as much as I love it my model has numerous issues like ejecting of discs and controllers disconnecting. These made me consider whether I should have waited for a newer improved model.

As a result I waited till this summer to get a Switch, so 3 years. This is was just allow problems to be fixed and allow myself more buying options for console models, accessories etc. Unfortunately there seems to be very little variety in accessories such as pro controllers. Nevertheless I am glad I waited because my Switch has a better battery life.

[gummo]

In my console buying days I'd only ever bought the Xbox 360 at launch .

I was fashionably late buying the PS2, Xbox, PS3, PSP, and the Xbox One.

It's nice to have a stack of games before I buy the console .

[telekill]

I'm going to count the launch window as being within 6 months of launch for time frame purposes.
 - PS1 (Christmas '95)
 - Dreamcast (launch day - first system I bought myself)
 - PS2 (March 2001 - tax return)
 - PSP (launch day)
 - PS3 (1 week after launch)
 - PSV (launch day)
 - PS4 (launch day)
 - Switch (launch day - gave to kids in a huge clue hunt the following April when Mario Kart released)
 - PS5 Optical (preordered)