The title is very much self explanatory. There's a lot of grief going on around the announcement of the PS4 that's related to this aspect of a console so I gotta ask: how much do you actually value backwards compatibility? Do you replay your previous gen games often enough that the feature would be a deal breaker for you?

Honestly, when I got the PS3 I was actually aiming for the PS2 compatible version. At the time I couldn't find it anywhere so had to settle for a 40Gb model. To my surprise though, I've only ever booted up the PS2 to replay some old games only half a dozen times at best in the past 5 years. PS 1 games? That's what the PSP is for in my opinion, since on the big screen they look like Hell.

While I expected the lack of that option to be grating, over time I came to the conclusion that I'm doing just fine without it. I don't even go back to some of the PS3 games that I own to replay.

It's important but not a deal breaker for me, If I still wanna play games from older consoles ill just make sure I hold onto it.

It's essential for me. I replay my games all the time, especially since I own Nintendo consoles. that means that if I want to pop out Mario Kart or Super Smash with my family, I'll need a backwards compatible device (and no I REFUSE to put two consoles under my TV).  Other than that, I don't want to go rebuying all of my downloadable games again.  Finally, Its a way to ease myself into the new gen because I feel like getting the new console is a net plus rather than a "the pros are greater than the cons".  With the Wii U I lose nothing from my Wii (I have yet to buy and Gamecube games) and I have everything from next gen to gain.  So yes, it is essential especailly if I owned the previous console.

To me personally. Not very.

Not at all, if i want to play and older game, i'll play it on the original system, with original controller

I play old games a lot and even though it's not realistic I wish consoles were backwards compatible with all their predecessor's games. I don't like to re-buy games unless they are enhanced. Halo Anniversary Edition was such an improvement that I was happy to re-buy it, but I don't want to re-buy digital copy of a game that I already own just to play it on a new console. Stuff like the virtual console is great for people that don't have any of those games, but I have to keep my old systems in working order to play my games.

For me, backwards compatibility is very important. The lack of it isn't a deal breaker, but if a system has it I'll use it.

I'm hoping that not only will the Nextbox have full backwards compatibility, much like PCs do, but like PC games the Nextbox will be able to enhanced 360 games with better frame rates and higher resolutions.

At the very least I expect the entire XBLA and XBLIG libraries to be fully playable and transferable on day of Nextbox release.

It's most important for the first batch of consoles. Typically, when consoles launch, the best games for it do not come out until an year or two passes by. So what do you do while waiting for said games to come out? Either replay games or work on your backlog from the past gen. It's nice to know that when you buy a new console, you have an infinite library of games that'll also work for it. After enough consumers who are in the market for say, PS4 games for their PS4 system, have been gained, then BC will typically be phased out. BC is definitely an important factor in buying new systems for early adopters. It's been proven with Nintendo handhelds, for example.

I don't think it should be a deal breaker, but I understand if it is for some. As for me, I was hoping for BC with PS4 but I will have to stick with a PS3 if I want to play PS3 games, as that seems to be the case.

Depends. If  you've owned the previous consoles from the particular company than I don't see the issue, but if you're like me and you've never owned a Sony console, BC becomes a HUGE factor for PS4, as you have litterally 1000s of games at your disposal from launch. But it looks like Sony doesn't want my business as it sounds like it's not including BC for PS4, so I'll most likely pass on Sony yet again.

I think it's important at the start of the gen when early adopters may want to play new games that are still coming out on PS3. For instance, I got a b/c PS3 last gen when they came down in price and not long after decided to buy and try Shadow of the Colossus and God of War 1 & 2. Great games I probably wouldn't have bothered with otherwise.

Then buy a PS3? They are relatively cheap now, especially used.