I got it on launch day, (france: nov21 2000) I couldn't go to the store (Virgin) during the entire day coz of other works, but I finally got there at 11:30PM, and picked up my PS2, having ordered it 3 months in advance.
I picked up only the demo cd w/my PS2, the next day i bought TimeSplitters but honestly the game sucks so much!!! I had to wait a long time till I got enough money to buy another game, if I remember correctly Smuggler's Run. I then played that for a very, very, very long time
With my Xbox, though, nowhere near the same financial problems: I had $1000 saved up!!