'Saints Row: The Third' reveals gangster creation suite

Troublemakers ready to rampage through the exaggerated ganglands
Saints Row: The Third will be able to create and share their own custom characters via the game's Initiation Station.

Come autumn 2011, players will be able to save and share their creations with friends and the wider Saints Row community.

THQ and Volition suggest that inspiration could be taken from a number of sources in crafting a "favorite downward-spiraling train wreck celebrity" or "prima donna professional athlete."

Hoodlums can also be arranged in teams of two, from the conventional cowboy and Indian or tag-team wrestler pairing to the prospect of "dominatrix and sex slave" stalking the streets.

Gangsters can even don superhero capes and costumes, a knowing wink at MMO titles such as DC Universe Online and the City of Heroes series.

With Grand Theft Auto absent from this year's release schedule, Saints Row has the space to serve up its own sideways slice of urban hustle on Xbox 360, PC and PS3.

So why trail it now? Perhaps because THQ stablemate Red Faction: Armageddon is now due in June - those who pre-order Armageddon are granted a week's worth of early access to the Saints Row Initiation Station.