Okay. So then the 3DS must not be fully backwards compatible either, lol. You can't play the games that required the GBA slot.
Well, let's try to knock a bit of sense into this argument. We are talking about backward compatibilty at the moment.
In this argument there are two points to be made.
1. online games in e-stores
2. Hardware games such as UMD's and cards for the DS.
Let's start with the 3DS.
Nintendo released a page with full information about backwards compatibilty.
http://www.nintendo.co.uk/NOE/en_GB/systems/backwards_compatible_32441.html
As we can clearly see here, the 3DS is fully backwards compatible with older games from older Nintendo DS devices. So yes, from a hardware standpoint, the 3DS is backwards compatible untill you reach the GBA games. When you reach those, you are out of luck. GBA games (and older games wil not run.
The first DS came out on 21 of november 2004 according to this wikipedia article.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nintendo_DS. So from a hardware point of view the 3DS has backwards compatibilty for about 8 years worth of games. Which are all the same DS standard with some improvements for new systems along the line. So is this really backwards compatible? Isn't this just expanding the range of games that can be made. There is no real new standard invented, only new options added. These options can only be accessed in new systems. But apart from that no new inprovments are made. And whe have seen about 8(?, please correct me if I am wrong, I have no information on this matter) different DS systems since the first one. All with a new look and one or two extra features. Please consider this last point to, because here is the big 'problem'.
Seen again from the hardware point of view, the PS vita an entirely new game standard for the Portable Playstation devices.
The original PSP has been released in (again) 2004 as can be seen here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_Portable
And since then has used the UMD standard for games with every 'improved' version of the system.
Now with the ps vita, they switched to little cards. But they left out the UMD station so no compatability with those games.
This, I am afraid, is a pointless thing to discuss. You see, there are good reasons for both systems to make the decision for backwards compatibilty yes or no. The 3DS is most likely to have backwards compatibility for DS games because there are no real changes to the platform and system which would make this impossible. If we look back however to the last 'real' system change from GBA games to DS games.. Well We donnot see this compatibilty anymore not only because of age but also for not having to sacrifice space within the console.
The PS vita, most likely has the same reason for not beeing able to play UMD's. Because there was a real change to the system and hardware.
So if whe compare this... The systems are equal for the most part of it.
If you disagree with above point, please let me know why.
On a online shop point of view... Well what's there to argue about again?
Both systems have backwardscompatibilty for consoles way back and both do not have by any stretch of the imagination have all titels of those old consoles.
So guys, keep on argueing but leave compatibilty to a rest.
Both manufactures act more or less the same in similair situations. Only, because they donnot at the same time, you donnot fully consider this point.
Hope this clears things up a bit. And I'm sorry, I donnot have the best English ever
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DD and tons more are awesome.