Sony CEO Jack Tretton talks up Heavy Rain

Sony chief executive Jack Tretton has added to the hype surrounding Heavy Rain, explaining the company’s policy on sales whilst touching upon the widely anticipated PS3 game that has just set foot in the market.

In an interview with FastCompany.com, Tretton said: “It used to be if the game doesn’t ship for Christmas, ‘Oh my God! Two-thirds of the sales are out the window; it’s a disaster.’ And the only games that shipped in the first quarter were the disappointments. Now the first quarter is just as robust as the fourth quarter in terms of sales potential. And people no longer worry about whether they’re going to make Christmas. In fact they say, ‘What’s coming out from the competition; what’s the best window where we can get the most hay for our titles?’

“I think we are spending a lot more time now on portfolio management – not only looking at genres, but looking at timing, who the competition is, and what the consumer wants.”

The CEO explained his analysis of the market by insisting that the consumer is not going to see many different, but similar styled games grace the market when a release hits the limelight.

“You’re not seeing 10 shooters in the month of November, like you might have seen before,” Tretton added.

“Grand Theft Auto is successful, so then 10 rip-offs come out. People are really thinking a lot more creatively.”

Shifting focus back onto the blockbuster release, he continued: “The game I am hoping you want to spend a little time talking about is Heavy Rain.

“I spent 25 years in this industry, and it’s rare you see a game that sells incredibly well and that impresses you. But then you go, ‘Wow! That’s the type of game I’ve never seen before!’ And I think Heavy Rain falls into that category. I don’t even now how to classify it or describe it.

“I read a review that said it’s the next stage of reading a book. You don’t have to be a gamer at all. I think if you read a book, unless you read the chapters in reverse order, the story is pretty much going to be the same. But with Heavy Rain, depending on what you do, you are going to get a different outcome every time.”

As it stands, another open-ended emotionally dramatic experience appears to be on the cards.