European PS Vita owners get over 100 new (old) games. But America only gets to buy 9 of them?

PlayStation Vita finally gets PSOne Classics support today in Europe, allowing gamers to play first-generation PlayStation games on their shiny new handhelds. However, it won't actually work fully until tomorrow when the PS Store updates. Before then, you can transfer PSOne games from your PS3's hard drive using the 'Copy' function, once you've installed today's 1.8 Vita firmware update.

American Vita owners can use this method too... and it looks like they'll need to, as only 9 titles are initially available to download directly. Hardly the service Vita owners have been clamouring for, unless your favourite game is Arc the Lad. Hmmm.

Above: Arc The Lad is one of nine PSOne games hitting US Vitas tomorrow

The firmware update is live now and includes more welcome functionality, such as the ability to control the home menu with the face buttons (which is very nice - we're sick of starting a game and then immediately having to get out a cloth to wipe away the smudge), an option to import iTunes playlists, cross-console control for compatible games and some cosmetic tweaks to the notifications system. There's also new rear touchpad control for the internet browser.

So here's that European PSOne Classics list in full, hitting the PS Store tomorrow:

40 Winks
A Bug’s Life
A Bugs Life and Monsters Inc bundle
Abe’s Exoddus
Abe’s Oddworld Oddysee
Airboat
All-Star Boxing
Alundra
Arc Arena: Monster Tournament
Arc the Lad
Arc the Lad II
Arc the Lad III
Arcade Hits: Shienryu
Arcade Hits: Sonic Wings Special
Atari Anniversary Edition
Atlantis
Atlantis and Hercules Bundle
Bishi Bashi Special
Blockids
Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain
Bugriders
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Centipede
Cho Aniki
Constructor
Cool Boarders
Cool Boarders 2
Crash Bandicoot
Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back
Crash Bandicoot 3 Warped
Critical Depth
CTR: Crash Team Racing
Destruction Derby
Dezaemon Plus
Disney’s Action Game ft. Hercules
Dodgeball
Driver
Eagle One: Harrier Attack
Everybody’s Golf 2
Fear Effect
Fear Effect: Retro Helix
Fighting Force
Fighting Force 2
Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VII
Front Mission 3
G-Police
Gaiaseed
Galaxy Fight
Gex
Gex 3: Deep Under Cover
Gex 3D: Enter the Gecko
Grandia
Gubble
Guilty Gear
Gunship
Hardcore 4X4
International Track & Field
Jet Rider
Jet Rider 2
Jigsaw Madness
Judge Dredd
Junior League Soccer PS1
Jumping Flash
Kula World
Kurushi Final
Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver
Lilo & Stitch
Little Mermaid 2
Little Mermaid 2 and Winnie The Pooh bundle
MediEvil
Metal Gear Solid
Mickey’s Wild Adventure
Miracle Quad Racer
Miracle Space Race
Missile Command
Monsters Inc
Motor Toon Grand Prix 2
Motorhead
N20
Namco Heritage bundle
Pandemonium
Pandemonium 2
Parasite Eve 2
Peter Pan
Pong
Pooh’s Party Game
Rageball
Rainbow Six
Rally Cross
Rascal Racers
Rayman
Rayman 2: The Great Escape
Reel Fishing
Re-loaded
Resident Evil 2
Resident Evil 3: Nemesis
Resident Evil: Director’s Cut
Ridge Racer Type 4
Sheep
Silent Hill
Snowboard Racer
Sorcerer’s Maze
Spin Jam
Sports Superbike
Streak
Street Fighter 2 Alpha
Super Star Dance Club
Syphon Filter
Syphon Filter 3
Tarzan
Tekken
Tekken 2
Tomb Raider
Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation
Tomb Raider Chronicles
Tomb Raider 2
Tomb Raider 3
Toy Story 2
Toy Story Racer
Toy Story Racer and Toy Story 2: Woody and Buzz bundle
Twisted Metal
Urban Chaos
Vagrant Story
Wild Arms
WipEout

By comparison, the US Store is getting:

Arc the Lad
Cool Boarders 2
Final Fantasy VII
Hot Shots Golf 2
Jet Moto
Syphon Filter
Tomb Raider
Twisted Metal 2
Wild Arms

No, we don't know why either. But we have contacted Sony for a reason, so we'll see what comes back. In the mean-time, there's this thread on NeoGaf which is archiving compatibility with the various installation methods for American users. It looks like games acquired through PlayStation Plus don't install on Vita, but legitimately bought versions of the same games do. It's all a bit of a faff if we're honest, but things should improve once the list of officially-supported games expands. Updates are planned over the coming weeks and months.

Unimpressed? Or just pleased the functionality's finally there? Let us know in the comments.