"The Big Comfy Couch" (Cancelled Xbox Video Game)

No, because those images were not on the internet prior to the article they're from. Try searching for Big Comfy Couch or doing a reverse image search on then. The only similar images are the ones in the Unseen64 article. So the background image for the menu is either no longer on the internet (and considering that's not Molly I doubt it'd be near the top of Google Image results in any case) or they got it from Radical Sheep

I'm still pretty obsessed with this mystery so I decided to pick it back up.

First off, I really do like the theory that canadianchildhood said about THQ and Power Rangers. I looked at the Xbox's life (2001-2009) and all the Power Rangers games released over those years were from THQ. So I do think we can safely say THQ probably had a hand in that Power Rangers Legacy game, which would imply that the Comfy Couch game also came from THQ.

Second, regarding Power Rangers Legacy, I asked Unseen64 for screenshots from that game (which they never posted anywhere) and I got them-





These Power Rangers screenshots do look strikingly similar to the Comfy Couch screenshots regarding their simplicity, but what's even more surprising about the game is what the Unseen64 guy told me- that the anonymous dev "seems he had a playable prototype and he was trying to sell it to a collector at the time".

This was in reference to Legacy, not Comfy Couch, but it's really crazy to even think about cause it would mean a Big Comfy Couch prototype could exist out there too, but I guess this guy didn't have it, or if he did he didn't allude to it.

So yeah, maybe we should be looking for THQ employees from 2001-2009 who may have had a hand in developing these games? Perhaps the quality of the game in screenshots can give us an idea of what years we're looking at, but someone who's more familiar with Xbox development would probably have to throw their hat into the ring on that one.

It's not much, but it's something.

Do you know anywhere there could be an easy way to look for contact info on THQ devs?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Power_Rangers_video_games Wikipedia has a supposed list of power rangers games, but most of those that came out in the time frame we're discussing weren't 3d and were developed mainly for the GB or GBA. Not sure how accurate the list is, either, so it could be wrong. There are 18 games listed, 6 between 2001-2009. Only one is a 3d game, and the closest system to the Xbox it released on was the ps2. Other than Windows, I suppose. All of the GB games, 5 of them, were developed by THQ though. www.mobygames.com/game/windows/sabans-power-rangers-time-force__/credits Here are the credits for the first game, time force, specifically the Windows version. Here is the GBA version credits:  www.mobygames.com/game/gameboy-advance/sabans-power-rangers-time-force/credits www.mobygames.com/game/gameboy-advance/2-games-in-1-power-rangers-time-force-power-rangers-ninja-storm there's a 2 in 1, not listed on the wikipedia, that also includes Ninja storm, the third THQ game.

Better formatting and ongoing list: Wikipedia List of Power Rangers Games
Time Force Windows Credits (THQ game 1)
GBA Time Force Credits
GBC Time Force Credits
Time Force Ninja Storm 2 in 1 (No credits listed)
Time Force for Ps1 Credits

The main producers at THQ for Time Force were 
Petro Piaseckyj (Lead producer) - Hasn't been credited in anything since 2009. Last credit "Rag Doll Kung Fu: Fists of Plastic" by Tarsier Studios AB for PS3 (still operating, seemingly, releases as recent as 2017)

Angel Sisson (Assistant Producer) AKA Angel "Death Warrant" Sisson - Active as recent as 2017 in the industry, best lead for now. Last credit is a "Ben 10" game from late 2017. Not very active in the industry in recent years, only popping up in their latest credit after a break of 4 years - biggest gap was from "Adventure Time: Explore the Dungeon Because I DON’T KNOW!" 2013 to "Ben 10" 2017. Nothing major, but it's something to note.

Carolina Beroza (Senior Producer) - Active no more than two years after 2001. Least likely lead to return any contacts, but also worked on some movies, including being an assistant sound editor on Wayne's World. Listed as the executive producer for Time Force on IMDB, though it likely means the same thing. Last credit was a "special thanks" and "THQ thanks" for "The Fairly OddParents!: Breakin' da Rules" from late 2003, however, she's mentioned in this 2008 article about some company called "Genius Products" on their move into games. 

Will continue later.

I'd imagine the THQ publishers from the other projects would be involved regardless. The article I mentioned on Carol, she's mentioned more generally as just "one of my executive producers -- and every Monday I had my five one-on-ones with my five direct reports to executive producers who had all sort of overloaded their franchises." Power rangers isn't directly mentioned but Franchises is. 

It's a legacy game, so it's representing all eras (at the time at least); this is evident by the character select screen.

Did anyone actually look at the screenshots? "Clean those bathrooms", "Z Poopie", all with a Putty on the toilet? This likely never would have been released or was meant to; this was probably a gag by some amateur or a company going under - I might be in on this now. This is kind of bothering/unsettling me.

I am being really lazy here cause I know this was posted in the thread, but how did Unseen64 say they obtained the Comfy Couch stuff again?

I'm unconvinced this isn't a case of Unseen64 (and now me) getting trolled, but whatever.

Re: "Power Rangers Legacy"

I'd expect that to have been in development between 2003-2005. I say that because on the character select screen, the latest series represented is Power Rangers: Dino Thunder, which aired in 2004 and was produced the year prior. There seems to be a scroll bar on the right side of that image, so there could be a newer team that just isn't in view. Thankfully, you can put an end date on that era due to the Xbox's short life. By the launch of the 360 in late 2005, the original console was effectively abandoned. I highly doubt any rational studio would be pitching titles (much less family/child friendly ones, which never had a strong audience there) for it by then.

Funny thing is THQ actually launched a Dino Thunder PS2/GC game in 2004. It was developed by an internally owned studio called Pacific Coast Power & Light Co. I doubt they're responsible for "Legacy," but here are the credits from that game. Don Traeger and David Gray are listed as producers on it, though looking into them, both appear to have been employees of the development studio and not THQ's publishing office. If "Power Rangers Legacy" was a pitch from another studio, they likely wouldn't have a clue of its existence. I'd check those credits against the ones from the GBA Dino Thunder game (which was developed externally in Japan by Natsume) for any crossover. That may point to individuals who were responsible for overseeing the Power Rangers brand at THQ, rather than just certain aspects of its development. I'd put greater weight on people more involved with the console game (from THQ's side), since it may be possible that Dino Thunder PS2/GC was greenlit in favour of "Legacy."