Tim Follin
Alt./Nickname: | Timothy J. Follin | |
Date of Birth: | ~1970 | |
Location: | UK | |
Website: | www.timfollin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk | |
Picture: | Early days |
Biography
Tim Follin was born in St. Helens, UK. If his name doesn't ring a bell, you definitely need to learn more about Western VGM, since he is one of the most popular composers in fan communities. Tim is reknowned for having pushed the limited sound chips of retro systems like the C64 and NES to their limits, while coming up with highly energetic and memorable music. He has two older brothers that have been involved in the gaming industry: Geoff (composer) and Mike (programmer). They often worked on the same games, under the same companies (Software Creations, Malibu Interactive, etc.).
One of Tim's main hobbies is to write and make films. He has done two short films so far: "Body Counting" (2004) and "The Sun Circle". The soundtracks were done also done by him.
He is currently working as a "TV commercials director/producer, as well as producing programme branding packages, title sequences, animated graphics, corporate videos and multimedia. While Tim announced his departure from the VGM business in early 2006, he has since made another statement that he is back as a music composer, although he hasn't worked on a new game project yet.
- The systems he liked writing the music for the most were the Commodore 64 and the SNES, along with the CD/digital format of later systems. It's interesting to note that he mentioned despising synthesized music in favor of real instruments.
- He did some programming, for example on the game "Future Games". He also programmed a number of the sound drivers he worked with.
- Tim can play the violin, guitar, bass, piano and penny whistle. Has been part of two bands; played the keyboard in the first one and the bass in the second.
- Some influential bands/artists include Electric Light Orchestra, Rush, Genesis, Yes, Vangelis, Quincy Jones, Jethro Tull, Stevie Wonder and classical.
- He mentioned in an interview prefering to reach other levels of consciousness through dreams rather than drugs.
- Demo: "Star Tip 2" (ZX), "Music Demo 1" (C64)
Games
Year |
Title |
System |
Dev. / Pub. |
Co-composer? |
1985 |
Star Firebirds | ZX |
Firebird |
- |
1985 |
Subterranean Stryker | ZX |
Insight |
- |
1985 |
Vectron | ZX |
Firebird |
- |
1986 |
Agent X | ZX |
Mastertronic |
- |
1986 |
Future Games | ZX |
Zarathrustra / Mastertronic |
- |
1987 |
Agent X II: The Mad Prof's Back! | C64, ZX |
Software Creations / Mastertronic |
(Non-VGM Covers) (full credits) |
1987 |
Bubble Bobble (conversion) | AST, ZX |
Software Creations / Taito / Firebird |
Taito (Arcade originals) |
1987 |
Chronos: A Tapestry of Time | ZX |
Radical Tubes / Mastertronic |
- |
1987 |
Sentinel | ZX |
Software Creations / Firebird |
- |
1987 |
Scumball | C64 |
Software Creations / Mastertronic |
- |
1988 |
Bionic Commando (conversion and original) | AMI, AST, C64, ZX |
Software Creations / Capcom / GO! |
Fujita Harumi (Arcade originals) (full credits) |
1988 |
Black Lamp | C64, ZX |
Firebird |
(Non-VGM Covers) (full credits) |
1988 |
Bodyslam | C64 |
Software Creations / Sega / Firebird |
Sega (Arcade originals) |
1988 |
LED Storm | AMI, AST, C64, ZX |
Software Creations / Capcom / GO! |
(Deep Purple cover) |
1988 |
Peter Pack Rat | C64, ZX ('89) |
Silverbird |
Mike Fuller (Arcade originals), (Kenneth J. Alford cover) |
1988 |
Psycho Pigs UXB | C64, ZX |
Software Creations / U.S. Gold |
Geoff Follin (C64) |
1988 |
Raw Recruit | C64, ZX |
Software Creations / Mastertronic |
(Non-VGM Covers) (full credits) |
1988 |
Renegade | AMI, AST |
Software Creations / Taito / Imagine |
- |
1988 |
Sky Shark (conversion and original) | C64, NES ('89) |
Software Creations / Taito |
Tatsuya Uemura (Arcade originals ~ SID #1-4) |
1988 |
Star Paws | ZX |
Software Projects |
- |
1989 |
Ghouls 'N Ghosts | AMI, AST, C64, ZX |
Software Creations / Capcom / U.S. Gold |
- |
1989 |
Magic Johnson's Basketball / Fast Break | C64, NES ('90) |
Software Creations / Virgin Mastertronic |
- |
1989 |
Missile Ground Zero | ZX |
Software Creations / Mastertronic |
- |
1989 |
Qix | AMI, C64 |
Alien Technology Group / Taito |
- |
1989 |
Sly Spy | AMI |
Software Creations / Data East / Ocean |
|
1989 |
Solar Invasion | ZX |
Mastertronic |
- |
1989 |
Target: Renegade | NES |
Software Creations / Taito |
- |
1990 |
Pictionary | NES |
Software Creations / LJN |
- |
1990 |
Puzznic | AMI |
Software Creations / Taito / Ocean |
- |
1990 |
Silver Surfer | NES |
Software Creations / Arcadia |
|
1990 |
Solstice | NES |
Software Creations / CSG Imagesoft |
- |
1991 |
Gauntlet III: The Final Quest | AMI, AST, ZX |
Software Creations / Tengen / U.S. Gold |
|
1991 |
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | NES |
Taito |
- |
1991 |
New Zealand Story / Kiwi Kraze | NES |
Software Creations / Taito |
|
1991 |
Treasure Master | NES |
Software Creations / American Softworks |
- |
1992 |
Incredible Crash Dummies | GB, NES ('93) |
Software Creations / LJN |
|
1992 |
Spider-Man and The X-Men in Arcade's Revenge | SNES |
Software Creations / LJN |
|
1992 |
Super Off Road | SNES |
Software Creations / Tradewest |
|
1993 |
Equinox | SNES |
Software Creations / Sony |
|
1993 |
Plok | SNES |
Software Creations / Tradewest |
|
1993 |
Rock 'n Roll Racing (arrangements) | SNES |
Silicon & Synpase / Interplay |
(arrangements of popular rock songs) |
1993 |
Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends | SNES |
Software Creations / THQ |
|
1994 |
Moto-X (unreleased) | SNES |
Software Creations / Trimark |
|
1994 |
Prime | SCD |
Malibu Interactive |
|
1994 |
Time Trax (unreleased) | GEN |
Malibu Interactive |
- |
1995 |
Batman Forever | SNES |
Probe / Acclaim |
Geoff Follin, Andy Brock (arrangements) |
94-97 |
Firearm (unreleased) | PSX |
Malibu Interactive |
|
1998 |
Batman & Robin (arrangements) | PSX |
Acclaim |
Elliot Goldenthal (Film original) |
1998 |
WWF War Zone | GB |
Iguana West / Acclaim |
- |
1999 |
Bust-A-Move 4 | GBC |
Taito / Acclaim |
Andy Brock, (Japanese Originals) |
2000 |
Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future | DC, PS2 ('02) |
Appaloosa / Sega |
Attila Héger (cinematics) |
2003 |
Ford Racing 2 | XBOX, PS2, PC |
Razorworks / Empire Interactive |
Bjørn Lynne |
2003 |
Starsky & Hutch | PC, PS2, XBOX, GC |
Minds-Eye Productions / Vivendi Universal |
- |
2004 |
Ford Racing 3 | XBOX, PC, PS2 |
Razorworks / Empire Interactive |
Muddy Funkers, Paul Stroud |
2004 |
Future Tactics: The Uprising | PS2, GC, XBOX, PC |
Zed Two Game Design Studio / Crave |
- |
2006 |
Lemmings | PSP |
Team17 / SCEE |
Bjørn Lynne (FMV), (old originals) |
Albums
Year |
Title |
2001 |
Back in Time 3 |
2003 |
RUN/STOP RESTORE |
2005 |
Revival ST |
2006 |
Immortal 3 |
2007 |
The Blithe, The Blend & The Bizarre |