Time for an Upgrade

Four hours with homeless people to do it

After a little over three years with the PS1, I was eagerly anticipating the release of the PS2. The advance promotion was amazing. R U E signage was prevalent all over Manhattan. I have legitimately never been more excited for the launch of a new system. I went into KayBee at Manhattan Mall because the Toys R Us right next door was no longer taking pre-orders. I excitedly placed my order. The night before the big release, I happened to be at KayBee. (I love toy stores and am always looking for new toys.) When I mentioned to the cashier I was chatting up that I would be back tomorrow to pick up my pre-ordered PS2, the cashier tells me, “Make sure you get here early. We presold too many.” I instantly freaked out. I was like, I’m not gonna be left without a PS2 on launch day. I basically went home, changed, came back, and was the second person in line. If you’re familiar with the 34th Street Herald Square Station, there’s like this little pathway between the PATH and the regular MTA lines, and it’s generally—especially at night—filled with a bunch of homeless people either sleeping or using the bathroom or whatever. You have to remember this was 2000. I want to say it was about 4:30 a.m. The mall wasn’t going to open until 9 a.m. There was only one street entrance into the mall. KayBee was on the bottom level, so you could see where KayBee was right from that little pathway. There were probably another dozen or so people lined up behind us, and I don’t know that every one of them were able to get their playstations. —LV

We upgraded the TV in 2006

Madeline Vega

In book, this picture took up a whole page with text on top

Madeline Strum Photography

PS2 games that were so fun we keep them ready to pop into the PS3

Revenge of the Sith - With a cheat code, you can beat Obi Wan, then beat the Emperor, and unlock a whole alternate ending where Anakin is in charge without ever becoming Darth Vader

Superman: Shadow of Apokolips - Luis is always quick to say this is a good game. It’s the best Superman game on PS2

Star Wars Battlefront 2 - Battlefront on the PS2 was good, but Battlefront on the PS4 is a whole other world. The maps and graphics are more accurate

SuperBombad Racing - This was a fun

Lego Batman - This was the devil, according to Luis. So hard.

This picture also took up a whole page with text on top

Madeline Strum Photography

Games we weren’t able or didn’t want to sell to GameStop

Hot Shots Golf - Before singing games, Hots Shots were easy to play as a group for fun

Hot Shots Tennis - LV took Tennis seriously and unlocked all the special characters. Then Meg accidentally saved over his version of the game. Whoops

Dark Angel - Jessica Alba is one of LV’s favorite Jessicas

I wanted baby pictures, but Kal wanted to play Finding Nemo

Madeline Strum Photography

Kal plays Finding Nemo on my set

Madeline Strum Photography

Kal introduces Betty to Skylanders

Madeline Vega