Xbox360 was the soonest. Bought it right after it released which was the biggest mistake of my life. Got RRoD in a few months and never ran well even after repairs.

PS2 was way late, like in 2005. I was actually a PC gamer and console games were expensive that time, like 5x expensive. In 2005, I bought the PS2 to play Brian Lara Cricket 2005 and Devil May Cry.

The funny thing with that is, we actually went to get a Sega Saturn but my Dad got us a PS1 because it was cheaper. Of course the same thing applied to games--so instead of Street Fighter Alpha, we got Street Fighter the Movie. XD

A few systems at launch -- most recently Wii U -- and the Sega Saturn in 2009.

WAT :O

Please, explain. XD

Never bought a console near launch always waited a couple of years for example PS2- 2003 and 360-2008.

Closest: WiiU, got it on launch
Longest: Gamecube, I got it like 4 years after launch (my parents wouldn't buy me one before^^)

Got Wii, 3DS and WiiU on launch day, didn't get NES until 1990 which was three years after European launch

Edit: The longest wait actually wasn't the NES it was the PSP which i got in 2011 six years after it launched.

Sooner, im pretty sure it was the Dreamcast. Bought it on launch day as soon as the shop opened.

Later... the PSP. Got one last year.

For me the usual is about 1 years after it launches. Thats when i feel compelled to buy them because the price might have dropped from launch, there are a few games worth having already out, and theres potencial for future announcements in the horizon and some years of life. Thats the best time to buy a new console in my opinion. Its what i've done with the 3DS and the Vita... and will probably end up doing with the Wii U and PS4.

ps2 in 2003.. lol

Well, I never played any Sega systems growing up -- apart from Game Gear.

So a few years ago I figured it was time to buy Sega's old consoles and play the games I missed.