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Unwanted Toys is a series of package concepts I made for a now-shuttered European company that specialized in high-end media packaging for European distribution.

I’ve learned that when you are crafting these collector’s editions for video games, there is a lot of guesswork involved, because you’re not given much to work with from the game publisher. Often that means looking at the games that have come before, in this case Saints Row 1 and 2.

I didn’t coin this idea, but Port Plexus really loved the idea of an R/C Lowrider, and even sent me a few videos of the toys in action. So I got to work and built them this car and radio control tandem. It looked sharp. An art book was also made to round out the package.

But this was never shown to THQ, because just prior to submitting they sent some specifications for what they didn’t want, and R/C toys and art books were on that no-go list. They even specified Lowriders were not apart of the brand image.

It was surprising, with Saints Row 2 being so 50-Cent in style. Clearly they were taking Saints Row 3 (eventually titled Saints Row The Third) in a new direction, and ultimately did so. At least we had some direction for the collector’s edition going forward. It was probably for the best this wasn’t submitted!

An R/C car I did like somewhat, but I felt a miniature one would have been appropriate. This car is about 10 - 11″ long, though nothing compared to that monster truck thing that was released for Call of Duty Black Ops.

And I know this may sound weird coming from an “artist”, but I’m not a fan of art books for video games. Unless it was something amazing and visually rich like a Final Fantasy title. Otherwise you can appreciate the art shown in-game.