Big Publishers have their ideas to bring their established franchises onto a handheld. Like happened with COD, Assassins Creed or Need for Speed.
Then they look out which handheld will be ale to handle. Would a (good) COD work on 3DS? Or would a good COD work better on Vita? There you are. Big franchises from 3rd parties won't fit to the 3ds, because mostly, their appeal just doesnt fit to the 3ds.
So: 3rd parties want the vita to be successful, because as proven by several generations before, 3rd party games don't sell too good on Nintendo platforms.
I think that's the main reason the vita gets better 3rd party support.
And i mean it like i say it.

must-have-list for platforms i don't own yet:
WiiU: Donkey Kong
XBone: Dead Rising 3, Ryse







