In the past I have always considered it important. But the reality is I play very few of my last gen games when I move to a new gen and I would expect any of the best games will end up with digital ports for the new gen anyway. So nice to have but certainly nothing I would use to base a decision on anymore (though I have in the past).

It use to be massive to me back when budget was tighter. Now, it is a nice benefit to have but not a deal breaker. If it added $50-$100 to cost of a console I'd be fine with it. Anymore than that and rather not have it.

I do for a few reasons.

1. can trade in my old console to get new console cheaper. For example trade Wii, for a Wii U.

2. There are plenty of older games that I do play again. This might sound strange to the FPS child who has no reason to ever go back an dplay those games cause they are all forgettable, just buy the new shooter and have fun in MP. But I plenty of times go back and play a fire emblem, random mario game, rpg's, or if some game gets a sequel I can refresh.

3. Cleanliness of entertainment system. Having more things able to do on one thing is always nice, it means less wires, less heat, less remotes, ect. If you could have a system that played NES, SNES, SEGA, Saturn, PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4, PC, Xbox, 360, Xbone, Gamecube, N64, Wii, Wii U and any other system made, would you not prefer to have that ONE system under your tv instead of having all 20 of them there or some in boxes?

So due to #2, I like backwards compatability for reason #1 and #3. Whether its to save money or have something all in one, I love BC.

If the poll had a "YES" only option I would have voted. Oh well.

Backwards compatibility does ADD value to the new console that you buy or bought. Allows you to continue playing your older games for a LONGER period of time. Some people actually find using more than one console at a time a hindrance more than anything and having the convenience of having the option of playing older and newer games on a console is rather handy. The Wii is an excellent example of that.

To me, BC does play a part in my decision in buying a new console and if I were to buy a new console (Gen8), I'd go with the WiiU first because at least it retains MOST of its BC functionality from the Wii. The PS4/XBO loses ALL if not most of its BC capabilities when they launch, so that means NO PS3 games.....NO XB360 games, etc therefore they lose value overall.

There's still awesome games coming out for the PS3 for 2013 at least. It would be pointless for me to buy something like GT6, GTA5, Beyond Two Souls, etc. only to buy a console in which renders those games useless. I'd would have to either continue playing the PS3 and PS4 separately or hold off on buying the PS4 until later (which is something I would)

That's just me.

I care. Since the DS/Wii Nintendo has been really consistent about launching new consoles with backwards compatibility for the previous generation. It's something I have definitely utilized and really appreciate. I don't want to "rent" games I already own from a Cloud. I want to be able to play my physical copies on whatever console I happen to have in my backpack or connected to my TV...and right now, 3DS and Wii U both give me that option.

I care for it. One of the reasons why I can hold off on buying a PS4.

 *cough cough* No comment...

very important in case you have to sell or system or a game drought

The thing is, I don't have enough time or money to play new games as they're released. In many cases, I can play them only years after release, and I'd like to be able to play them at that time. Easily, I mean. That's where backwards compatibility steps in.

I didn't purchase a PS3 until earlier this year once I was confident the PS4 would not be backwards compatible.

Now that I have a PS3, I would most likely be purchasing an XB1 within the first 2 years if it had BC (having not owned a 360), but as it is I will probably wait until the end of the gen and decide between the PS4 and XB1.

One of the big reasons I bought a Wii was because I skipped out on the PS2/GCN/XBOX gen and the Wii was backwards compatible with a pretty awesome Gamecube library (especially for someone who hadn't been following console gaming for several years).

I'm hesitant to pick up a Vita as it seems its pushing Digital really big (and I don't like digital) but the Backwards Compatability with the PSP (which I have not owned) is a big plus (if it was physically backwards compatible I would probably pick it up this coming spring, although I still might depending on how tax returns, expenses, etc. go).

A lot of gamers have a lot of disposable income and/or parents with disposable income, they buy every big name $60 AAA title and trade them in when done - but not everyone. There are a lot of gamers that buy games and keep them, we play games from decades before everyonce in a while and its nice to have them and be able to go back to them - and not having to setup another console is a big plus when it can happen.