View source for Tim Follin

{{short description|English video game music composer}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Tim Follin
| image             = 
| caption           = 
| background        = non_performing_personnel
| birth_name        = Timothy John Follin
| alias             = 
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1970|12|19}}
| birth_place       = [[St Helens, Merseyside|St Helens]], [[Lancashire]], England{{cn|date=October 2025}}
| instrument        = Piano/keyboard, guitar, violin
| genre             = [[Electronic music|Electronic]], [[New-age music|new age]], [[orchestral]], [[Rock music|rock]] [[progressive rock]], [[chiptune]], [[video game music]]
| occupation        = Composer<br />arranger<br />[[programmer]]
| spouse            = {{marriage|Clare Follin|2003}}
| years_active      = 1985–2006, 2015–present
| label             = C64Audio.com<br />(formerly High Technology Publishing)
| website           = {{URL|http://baggycat.com/|Baggy Cat LTD}}
}}

'''Timothy John Follin''' (born 19 December 1970)<ref name="Lethal News">{{Citation | last=Aydin | first=Metin L. (Kwon) | title=Interview of the Month | url=http://bonzai.kalliope.org/download/bz-LethalNews06.zip | format=diskmag | journal=Lethal News | issue=6 | publisher=Bonzai | year=1990 | access-date=4 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812191501/http://bonzai.kalliope.org/download/bz-LethalNews06.zip | archive-date=12 August 2011 | url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> is an English [[video game music]] composer, cinematographer, visual effects artist and game developer, who has written tracks for a variety of titles and home gaming systems, including the [[ZX Spectrum]], [[Commodore 64]], [[Amiga]], [[Atari ST]], [[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Game Boy]], [[Dreamcast]], and [[PlayStation]].

Follin has also co-founded a TV advertising company called ABF Pictures and a general-purpose media company called Baggy Cat Ltd, which to date has produced two video games, ''[[Contradiction: Spot the Liar!|Contradiction]]'' and ''At Dead of Night,'' the latter receiving massive attention and acclaim on Steam.

Among Follin's works are the soundtracks to ''[[Solstice (1990 video game)|Solstice]]'', ''[[Silver Surfer (video game)|Silver Surfer]]'', ''[[Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge]]'', ''[[Plok!]]'', and ''[[Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future]]''.

==Video game career==

===Insight Studios===
As a child, Follin had no significant music training.<ref name="6581 SID">{{Citation | last=Beck | first=Justin (Hard Hat Mack) | title=Interview with Tim Follin on March 4, 2000 | date=4 March 2000 | url=http://www.kdvs.org/6581SID/timfollin.html | publisher=6581 SID | access-date=4 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040625151058/http://www.kdvs.org/6581SID/timfollin.html | archive-date=25 June 2004}}</ref> Leaving Liverpool's Sandown Music College after one year of studies,<ref name="6581 SID"/><ref name="Commodore Zone">{{Citation | last1=Mackenzie | first1=Jason (Kenz) | last2=Pilkington | first2=Warren (Waz) | title=Another groovy CZone exclusive interview from Kenz and Waz. | year=1998 | url=http://c64audio.valuehost.co.uk/edge/czone_follin.htm | publisher=Commodore Zone | access-date=4 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041217185944/http://c64audio.valuehost.co.uk/edge/czone_follin.htm | archive-date=17 December 2004}}</ref> Follin's career began at the age of 15 working at Insight Studios.<ref name="Gamedeveloper">{{Citation | last=Cifaldi | first=Frank | date=26 September 2005 | title=Playing Catch-Up: Tim Follin | publisher=Gamedeveloper | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/playing-catch-up-tim-follin | access-date=15 October 2024}}</ref>  Follin ended up in video games due to his older brother [[Mike Follin]] learning how to program for the ZX Spectrum and obtaining professional work at Insight.<ref name="6581 SID"/><ref name="Commodore Zone"/> After developing a pulse-width modulation effect Tim wrote the music driver and soundtrack for their first professional game, ''Subterranean Stryker,''<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games">{{Citation | year=2000 | title=Computer Games | url=http://www.follin.freeserve.co.uk/MikeHP/compgame.htm | publisher=Mike Follin | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010211105739/http://www.follin.freeserve.co.uk/MikeHP/compgame.htm | archive-date=11 February 2001 | access-date=4 September 2011 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> followed by an arrangement of [[Igor Stravinsky|Stravinsky's]] "[[Firebird Suite|The Firebird]]", used for the game ''Star Firebirds''.<ref name="Re:Loaded">{{Citation |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Gerry |title=Re:Loaded |location=Manchester, England |publisher=Channel M |last2=Bowker |first2=Damian |last3=Jones |first3=Neill |medium=television}}</ref> Follin then developed a three-channel sound routine which he used to create the music for his third soundtrack, ''Vectron''.<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/> He then went on to create 4- and 5-channel music for games such as [[Chronos (1987 video game)|''Chronos'']] and [[Agent X (1986 video game)|''Agent'' X]]. In his early career, Follin's music was praised in magazine game reviews.<ref name="Commodore Zone"/>

Follin's sole game programming credit (not counting music drivers) came with his fourth title, ''Future Games'', where he created one minigame of the several featured.<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>

===Software Creations===
Hired by Richard Kay, Tim followed brother Mike in moving to Software Creations<ref name="6581 SID"/> in 1987, his first full-time job, where he spent a significant portion of his career. Follin's arranged soundtrack to ''Bubble Bobble'' was his first written for a soundchip, the [[General Instrument AY-3-8910|AY-3-8910]].<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>

Follin wrote the music for ''[[Black Lamp (game)|Black Lamp]]'' in one night after a bout of writer's block.<ref name="Commodore Zone"/>

Within the level 1 music of ''[[Ghouls'n Ghosts]]'' for the Amiga is a voice sample played backwards saying "secret authority", considered nothing more than a joke by Follin.<ref name="Tim Forsyth">{{Citation | last=Forsyth | first=Tim | date=14 December 1998 | title=An interview with...... Tim Follin | url=http://www.soton.ac.uk/~tf/follininterview.htm | publisher=Computer Music Generation | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991022070231/http://www.soton.ac.uk/~tf/follininterview.htm | archive-date=22 October 1999 | access-date=4 September 2011 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Alongside ''Ghouls'n Ghosts'', two other Amiga soundtracks, ''Sly Spy'' and ''Puzznic'', were presented in the Amiga music format "Follin Player II".<ref name="Follin Player II">{{Citation | url=http://www.exotica.org.uk/wiki/Follin_Player_II | title=Follin Player II – ExoticA | access-date=4 September 2011 | date=31 July 2008 | publisher=ExoticA}}</ref> To arcade soundtrack arrangements like ''Bionic Commando'' and ''Ghouls'n Ghosts,'' Follin added richer sound palette and occasionally composed some new songs (the title music of ''Ghouls'n Ghosts'').

Follin described the NES title ''[[Solstice (1990 video game)|Solstice]]'' as "a very inspiring game to do music for," demanding atmospheric music within the game's dark castle environment, as well as powerful music choreographed with the title sequence.<ref name="Making of Solstice">{{Citation | last1=Team | first1=Solstice (Producer) | year=1990 | title=The Making of Solstice | medium=Hi8 | publisher=CSG Imagesoft Inc., Epic/Sony Records }}</ref> Follin did not use a keyboard or any instruments for the ''Solstice'' soundtrack, composing while "thinking along the lines of the computer and not [...] a keyboard."<ref name="Making of Solstice"/> Follin felt the programming-only approach allowed him to work with "a more open mind".<ref name="Making of Solstice"/>

In a 1990 interview, Follin expressed "a bit of desolation" over the prospect of no longer composing for the Commodore 64, stating "I don't see myself staying with this machine," perhaps sensing the transition occurring in the European gaming marketplace as the [[History of video game consoles (third generation)|third generation of video and computer game platforms]] reached its end.<ref name="Lethal News"/> Follin's final Commodore 64 release came with 1991's ''[[Gauntlet III: The Final Quest|Gauntlet III]]''.

Beside contributing the soundtrack with brother Geoff, Follin recorded live sound effects for 1993 SNES title ''[[Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (video game)|Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends]]''.<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>

Citing a declining work environment,<ref name="Gamasutra">{{Citation | last=Cifaldi | first=Frank | date=26 September 2005 | title=Playing Catch-Up: Tim Follin | publisher=Gamasutra | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/playing-catch-up-tim-follin | access-date=4 September 2011}}</ref> Follin departed Software Creations in 1993 (with his final title there being ''[[Rock N' Roll Racing]]'').<ref name="Re:Loaded"/>

===Malibu Interactive and freelancing===
After leaving Software Creations, Follin joined [[Malibu Interactive]] for 18 months. While working for Malibu, Follin provided the soundtrack for ''Time Trax'' on the Sega Mega Drive and (along with brother Geoff) ''Prime'' for the Sega CD, doing "virtually nothing and getting paid"<ref name="Tim Forsyth"/> for the following year before winding up out of work. Another title composed alongside brother Geoff, ''Firearm'', went unpublished. Follin would spend the remainder of his video game career as a freelancer. Following Malibu Interactive's collapse, Follin then worked with groups that made unsuccessful game pitches to [[Psygnosis]] and the [[BBC]].<ref name="Tim Forsyth"/> Follin provided part of the soundtrack for ''Batman & Robin'', developed by Probe.

Follin joined the development team of ''Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future'' as the title's lead composer around mid-1998,<ref name="6581 SID"/> leaving Attila Heger no longer responsible for providing the entirety of the soundtrack. (Heger was made primarily responsible for scoring the game's cutscenes.)<ref name="Dark Sea: Attila Heger">{{Citation | last=Demidov (Демидов) | first=Andrew (Андрей) [Moduvator] | year=2005 | title=Interview with Attila Heger | publisher=Dark Sea (Epic Gaming) | url=http://www.ecco-darksea.com/int_heger.php | access-date=4 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227060034/http://www.ecco-darksea.com/int_heger.php | archive-date=27 December 2007}}</ref> Follin had been offered the composer position by Sega UK producer David Nulty, who was a fan of Follin's Commodore 64 work.<ref name="6581 SID"/> The soundtrack received very favourable reviews from ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'', ''[[DC-UK]]'', and ''[[Official Dreamcast Magazine (UK)|Official Dreamcast Magazine]]''.<ref name="Ecco the Dolphin Reviews">{{Citation | last=Follin | first=Tim | title=Demos | year=2001 | url=http://www.timfollin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/demos.htm | publisher=Tim Follin's Burial Site | access-date=4 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050417075758/http://timfollin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/demos.htm | archive-date=17 April 2005}}</ref>

The 2003 multiplatform release ''[[Starsky & Hutch (video game)|Starsky & Hutch]]'' was given a funk-style score by Follin, who said at the time, "This is the project I had hoped I would get one day. I've always loved Starsky & Hutch and {{sic|it's|expected=its}} original title music."<ref name="Empire Interactive">{{Citation | title=Empire composes itself for future releases | publisher=Empire Interactive | year=2002 | url=http://www.empireinteractive.com/corporate/files/pdfs/musiccomposerrelease.pdf | access-date=4 September 2011 | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207160941/http://www.empireinteractive.com/corporate/files/pdfs/musiccomposerrelease.pdf | archive-date=7 December 2006}}</ref> While with Software Creations, Follin had previously arranged the [[Starsky and Hutch|''Starsky & Hutch'' television series]]' theme as the title music to the 1991 NES release ''[[Treasure Master]]''.

===End of video game career and return===
Around August 2005, Follin announced on his website "with much delight" that he had chosen to stop composing music for video games, citing its irregular work not providing a substantial income, light-heartedly adding that the situation caused him "distress and illness". The tenuous nature of game development caused several instances of Follin being hired and subsequently having the project shelved. Follin noted that ''Starsky & Hutch'' had been in development for around three years before eventually being released.<ref name="Re:Loaded"/>

Towards the end of 2012 Follin decided to dust off an idea originally conceived as an interactive audio adventure game and reworked the concept as a video-based adventure game called ''[[Contradiction: Spot the Liar!|Contradiction]],'' which he designed and scripted, then filmed and programmed, also composing the game's soundtrack.<ref name="Contradiction EPK">{{Citation | title=Contradiction – the 100% video murder mystery game | publisher=Baggy Cat Ltd. | year=2015 | url=http://www.baggycat.com/epk | access-date=2 July 2015}}</ref>  The game was subsequently released on iPad and later on Steam. Follin then worked on another game, ''At Dead of Night'', again using the [[Interactive video|FMV]] format but this time in the horror game genre, which was released at the end of 2020. In mid-2021, a playthrough of At Dead of Night was created by gaming [[YouTuber]] [[Markiplier]], leading to a surge in popularity. A sequel is now in the works.<ref name="Hey Poor Player">{{cite web | url=https://www.heypoorplayer.com/2021/03/27/at-dead-of-night-markiplier/ | title=At Dead of Night Developer Thanks Markiplier, Promises a Sequel to FMV Horror Game | date=27 March 2021 }}</ref>

His brothers Geoff Follin and [[Mike Follin]] also worked in the video game industry as musician and programmer respectively, with both having moved on to other careers. Much like his brothers, Follin has changed careers, choosing to pursue films, television advertising, graphic design, visual effects and game design. Follin never considered himself a gamer as much as a musician or developer.<ref name="Re:Loaded"/>

===Game credits===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Game!!Release date!!Platform(s)!!Notes
|-
| ''At Dead of Night''
| 2020
| [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
|-
| ''[[Contradiction: Spot the Liar!]]''
| 2015
| [[iOS]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[OS X]]
| 
|-
| ''[[Lemmings (2006 video game)|Lemmings]]''
| 2006
| [[PlayStation Portable]], [[PlayStation 2]], [[PlayStation 3]]
| 
|-
| ''[[Ford Racing 3]]''
| 2005
| PlayStation 2, [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Nintendo DS]]
| co-composers: Muddy Funkers, Paul Stroud
|-
| ''[[Future Tactics: The Uprising]]''
| 2004
| PlayStation 2, [[GameCube]], Xbox, Windows
| 
|-
| ''[[Ford Racing 2]]''
| 2003
| PlayStation 2, Xbox, [[Macintosh]], Windows
| co-composer: [[Bjørn Lynne]]
|-
| ''[[Starsky & Hutch (video game)|Starsky & Hutch]]''
| 2003
| PlayStation 2, Xbox, Windows, GameCube
| sound, additional storyline; co-composers: Dave Sullivan, Matthew Costello
|-
| ''[[Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future]]''
| 2000<br/><small>(2002: PS2)</small>
| [[Dreamcast]], PlayStation 2
| co-composer: Attila Heger <small>(cutscenes)</small>
|-
| ''[[Puzzle Bobble 4|Bust-A-Move 4]]''
| 1999
| [[Game Boy Color]]
| arranger, co-arranger: Andy Brock
|-
| ''[[South Park (video game)|South Park]]'' <small>(cancelled)</small>
| 1998
| [[Game Boy Color]]
| arranger, co-composers/co-arrangers: Andy Brock, Steve Rockett
|-
| ''[[Batman & Robin (video game)|Batman & Robin]]''
| 1998
| [[PlayStation]]
| film score arrangements <small>(no compositions)</small>
|-
| ''[[WWF War Zone]]''
| 1998
| [[Game Boy]]
| 
|-
| ''[[Firearm (comics)|Firearm]]'' <small>(cancelled)</small>
| 1995
| [[Personal computer|PC]]
| co-composer: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''[[Prime (Malibu Comics)#Appearances_in_other_media|Ultraverse Prime]]''
| 1995
| [[Sega Mega-CD|Sega CD]]
| co-composer: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''[[Batman Forever (video game)|Batman Forever]]''
| 1995
| [[Sega Genesis|Mega Drive/Genesis]], [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]
| co-composer: Geoff Follin <small>(Super NES)</small>
|-
| ''[[Ken Griffey Jr. Presents Major League Baseball]]''
| 1994
| SNES
| arranger; co-composers/co-arrangers: Geoff Follin, Chris Jojo, Paul Tonge, Matthew Cannon
|-
| ''Moto-X'' <small>(completed, unreleased)<ref name="Games That Weren't">{{Citation | last=Gasking | first=Frank | date=26 September 2010 | title=Moto-X (Super Nintendo) | publisher=Games That Weren't | url=https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/2010/09/moto-x-snes/ | access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref></small>
| 1994
| SNES
| co-composer: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''[[Time Trax (video game)#Development and release|Time Trax]]''
| 1993
| Sega Mega Drive
| music driver designer, game never released
|-
| ''[[Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (video game)|Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends]]''
| 1993
| SNES
| arranger; co-composer/co-arranger: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''[[Rock N' Roll Racing]]''
| 1993
| SNES
| music driver designer, arranger; co-composer/co-arranger: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''[[Equinox (1993 video game)|Equinox]]''
| 1993
| SNES
| co-composer: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''[[Plok!#Audio|Plok!]]''
| 1993
| SNES
| co-composer: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''[[Super Off Road]]''
| 1992
| SNES
| co-composer: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''[[Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge]]''
| 1992
| Super NES, Genesis
| co-composer: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''[[The Incredible Crash Dummies#Video games|The Incredible Crash Dummies]]''
| 1992
| Game Boy, [[Game Gear]], [[Master System]]
| co-composer: Geoff Follin, music conversion: Matt Furniss <small>(GG, SMS)</small>
|-
| ''[[Gauntlet III: The Final Quest|Gauntlet III]]''
| 1991
| [[Commodore 64]], [[Amiga]], [[ZX Spectrum]]
| co-composer: Geoff Follin <small>(C64, Spectrum)</small>
|-
| ''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1991 video game)|Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade]]'' <small>([[Taito]] version)</small>
| 1991
| [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]]
|
|-
| ''[[Treasure Master]]''
| 1991
| NES
| 
|-
| ''[[The New Zealand Story]]'' <small>(known in America as ''Kiwi Kraze'')</small>
| 1991
| NES
| co-composer: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''Tom & Jerry (and Tuffy)''
| 1991
| NES
| co-composer: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''[[Pictionary (video game)|Pictionary]]''
| 1990
| NES
| 
|-
| ''[[Silver Surfer (video game)|Silver Surfer]]''
| 1990
| NES
| co-composer: Geoff Follin
|-
| ''[[Solstice (1990 video game)|Solstice]]''
| 1990
| NES
| 
|-
| ''[[Sky Shark (video game)|Sky Shark]]''
| 1989
| NES
| 
|-
| ''[[Ghouls'n Ghosts#Music|Ghouls'n Ghosts]]''
| Dec 1989
| Amiga, Commodore 64, [[Atari ST]]
| arranger, composer
|-
| ''[[Qix]]''
| 1989
| Commodore 64, Amiga
| 
|-
| ''[[Magic Johnson's Fast Break]]''
| 1989
| Commodore 64, NES
| 
|-
| ''Chester Field''
| 1989
| Commodore 64
| 
|-
| ''Missile Ground Zero''
| 1989
| ZX Spectrum
| 
|-
| ''Solar Invasion''
| 1989
| ZX Spectrum
| 
|-
| ''L.E.D. Storm''
| Feb 1989<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>
| Amiga, Commodore 64, Atari ST, ZX Spectrum
| 
|-
| ''[[Bionic Commando (arcade game)#Music|Bionic Commando]]''
| June 1988<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>
| Amiga, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Atari ST
| arranger
|-
| ''[[Target: Renegade]]''
| 1988
| NES
| arranger
|-
| ''[[Flying Shark#Legacy|Sky Shark]]''
| 1988
| Commodore 64, NES
| arranger
|-
| ''[[Peter Pack Rat]]''
| 1988
| Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
| arranger
|-
| ''Bodyslam''
| 1988
| Commodore 64
| 
|-
| ''[[Psycho Pigs UXB]]''
| 1988
| Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
| co-composer: Geoff Follin <small>(C64)</small>
|-
| ''[[Aigina's Prophecy]]''
| 1988
| Commodore 64
| 
|-
| ''[[Star Paws]]''
| 1988
| ZX Spectrum
| arranger
|-
| ''Raw Recruit''
| 1988
| Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
| 
|-
| ''[[Black Lamp (game)|Black Lamp]]''
| Apr 1988<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>
| Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
|
|-
| ''[[Bubble Bobble#Ports|Bubble Bobble]]''
| Oct 1987<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>
| ZX Spectrum, Atari ST
| arranger
|-
| ''[[Renegade (video game)#Ports|Renegade]]''
| 1987
| Amiga, Atari ST
| arranger
|-
| ''Scumball''
| 1987
| Commodore 64
| 
|-
| ''[[Agent X II: The Mad Prof's Back]]''
| 1987
| Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum
| 
|-
| ''[[Chronos (1987 video game)|Chronos]]''
| 1987
| ZX Spectrum
| 
|-
| ''[[The Sentinel (computer game)|The Sentinel]]''
| Mar 1987<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>
| ZX Spectrum
| 
|-
| ''[[Agent X (1986 video game)|Agent X]]''
| 1986
| ZX Spectrum
| 
|-
| ''Future Games''
| June 1986<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>
| ZX Spectrum
| 
|-
| ''Vectron''
| Oct–Dec 1985<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>
| ZX Spectrum
| 
|-
| ''Star Firebirds''
| Oct 1985<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>
| ZX Spectrum
| arranger
|-
| ''Subterranean Stryker''
| Mar 1985<ref name="Mike Follin: Computer Games"/>
| ZX Spectrum
| 
|}

==Thoughts on video game music==

{{Summarize section|date=October 2023}}

Follin's methodology of music was that music is "basically an unconscious experience" that does not and should not "engage your intellect".<ref name="Tim Forsyth"/> Rather, Follin believed game music was "more of a sort of atmospheric thing"<ref name="Making of Solstice"/> and had "always written music to be part of something else", intending for the video game (or other media the music is composed for) to provide the image or scene of context.<ref name="Tim Forsyth"/>

Within his personal experience, Follin always found the hardest part of creating music to be the concept phase, saying "I probably tear my hair out more over arrangement than over anything else." The easiest part was the execution of the solidified concepts.<ref name="6581 SID"/>

Follin felt the idea of computer music was "a silly one to begin with", as soundchips from the earliest platforms (e.g. ZX Spectrum) were only meant to produce sound effects.<ref name="Edge">{{Citation | author=Edge | title=Making tracks: The noble art of game music | journal=Edge |issue=15 | publisher=Future Publishing | pages=56–61 | date=December 1994}}</ref> As early as 1994, Follin expressed his desire to move away from scoring video games and transition to films, stating that he preferred never to work with chip-generated music again along with his hopes that the games industry would not move backwards from the emerging standard of CD audio.<ref name="Edge"/> Whether dealing with the audio limitations of older consoles or a game's narrow style guidelines when composing for modern soundtracks, Follin regarded the challenge of creating music within constraints to be an interesting part of working in video game music.<ref name="Flat Four Radio">{{Citation |last1=Sharples |first1=Matt (writer, presenter) |title=Chiptunes: Programme 1: ZX Spectrum Music |date=1 June 2005 |url=https://archive.org/download/Chiptunes_ZX_Spectrum_Music_1/26m48chiptuneszxspectrum.mp3 |publisher=Flat Four Radio |format=radio program |access-date=4 September 2011 |last2=Stowell |first2=Dan (writer, producer) }} [http://www.mcld.co.uk/flatfour/chiptunes/spectrum/ Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205074746/http://www.mcld.co.uk/flatfour/chiptunes/spectrum/ |date=5 December 2007 }}</ref>

During his game music career, Follin never had the mood or interest to join any [[demoscene]] [[demogroup|groups]].<ref name="Lethal News" /> Though Follin knew few fellow video game composers, he highly respected [[Richard Jacques]] for the amount of work put into his music.<ref name="Music 4 Games">{{Citation |last=Aldis |first=Neil |title=Starsky & Hutch Interview: Veteran Game Composer Tim Follin |date=1 August 2003 |url=http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=60 |access-date=4 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527203354/http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=60 |archive-date=27 May 2009 |publisher=Music 4 Games}}</ref>

===Influences===
Follin cited [[progressive rock]]<ref name="6581 SID"/><ref name="Re:Loaded"/> as well as many musicians (including [[Quincy Jones]], [[Jethro Tull (band)|Jethro Tull]],<ref name="Tim Forsyth"/> [[Led Zeppelin]], and [[John Martyn (singer)|John Martyn]]<ref name="Commodore Zone"/>) as having had some casual or subconscious influence on his music, and has also enjoyed music by [[Deep Purple]] and [[Guns N' Roses]].<ref name="Lethal News"/> However, he did not feel that any specific artist or style had been a primary inspiration during his career.<ref name="Commodore Zone"/> Follin acknowledged that in one instance he went for a more contemporary style when scoring the award-winning soundtrack<ref name="6581 SID"/> to ''Bionic Commando'', actively choosing to mimic other people's music for fear of potentially losing his job.<ref name="Commodore Zone"/>

The soundtrack to ''Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future'' may have been influenced by the works of American minimalist composer [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]], whom Follin explicitly acknowledged as a current influence during the time he was completing the soundtrack, citing Adams' work as "the only minimalist stuff I've heard which struck a chord with me."<ref name="6581 SID"/>

Follin did not have much time to listen to the work of his musical contemporaries while in the video games industry, a situation he implied as having been a benefit to his career. Follin speculated that in actively listening to those works, he likely ran the risk of encountering ideas he had not thought of and subsequently becoming discouraged and/or prone to copycatting.<ref name="6581 SID"/>

===Personal view of work===
Particularly in the earlier days of his career, Follin often composed game soundtracks while the games themselves were still in the writing stages, meaning that there was usually no frame of reference or genre objective in mind. Follin himself humorously felt these situations created many instances where the soundtrack was unsuited to the game, though at the time neither he nor any game developers had any issues. Given another chance, Follin said he would have given more effort toward making his earlier soundtracks better suited to the games, feeling that his failure to do so (despite the compositional quality) likely cost him future work. Back then, Follin instead focused on exploring the various consoles' audio limitations.<ref name="Flat Four Radio"/><ref name="Re:Loaded"/> The technical limitations of the most primitive video game system soundchips made Follin's primary goals to create original sounds as well as not allow the resulting music to sound poor.<ref name="Edge"/>

Follin also never had the interest to join a [[demoscene]] group, though, near the end of his time working with Commodore platforms, he claimed he enjoyed himself when he made music.<ref name="Lethal News"/> Outside of ''Ghouls'n Ghosts'' however, Follin later described his Commodore 64 work as nonsense that he was not particularly happy with.<ref name="Commodore Zone"/>

Follin noted ''Ghouls'n Ghosts'' on the Commodore 64 as his favourite work,<ref name="6581 SID"/><ref name="Re:Loaded"/> though the game was a known entity, unlike many of Follin's early projects. Software Creations programmer Steve Ruddy, who created the music driver for the game (with design input from Follin)<ref name="Games That Weren't: Ste Ruddy">{{Citation | last=Gasking | first=Frank | title=An interview with...Steve Ruddy | publisher=Games That Weren't | url=http://gtw64.retro-net.de/Interviews/sruddy.php | access-date=4 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527182311/http://gtw64.retro-net.de/Interviews/sruddy.php | archive-date=27 May 2009}}</ref><ref name="Archive">{{Citation | last=Follin | first=Tim | year=2005 | title=Wine Cellar | publisher=Dr. Follin's Home Surgery | url=http://timfollin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Archive.htm | access-date=4 September 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223091834/http://timfollin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Archive.htm | archive-date=23 December 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref> recalled Follin describing a wide array of imagery for the title theme.<ref name="Games That Weren't: Ste Ruddy"/> For the ''Ghouls'n Ghosts'' soundtrack, Follin retained parts of Tamayo Kawamoto's original arcade soundtrack within most tracks, only to transition into his own ideas for other portions of those tracks.<ref name="Re:Loaded"/> Similar circumstances resulted in Follin's soundtrack for ''Bionic Commando''.<ref name="Lethal News"/>

Follin has found it difficult to listen to works he created, feeling them to be outdated by the time they were completed.<ref name="Archive"/> Follin disliked working with the Atari ST<ref name="Commodore Zone"/> and the ZX Spectrum's AY chip, feeling the NES had more character. While not feeling very successful composing music for the Amiga, Follin enjoyed working on soundtracks for the SNES and Commodore 64. He described writing for the C64's [[MOS Technology SID|SID chip]] as "playing an instrument in its own right",<ref name="Tim Forsyth"/> appreciating the analogue sound it produced, despite having only three channels to work with.<ref name="6581 SID"/><ref name="Commodore Zone"/> Follin also recalled the SNES's ''[[Spider-Man/X-Men: Arcade's Revenge]]'' being fun due to the inclusion of cheesy '70s guitar synths and brass synths.<ref name="Re:Loaded"/>

Despite not considering himself adept at any live instruments, and composing several soundtracks beyond the [[History of video game consoles (fifth generation)|fifth generation of video game consoles]] using samples, Follin disliked sampled music. Instead, Follin strove to make his music sound as close to live instrumentation as possible.<ref name="Tim Forsyth"/> His most notable work using sampled instruments was the soundtrack to ''[[Ecco the Dolphin: Defender of the Future]]'', an experience he enjoyed, but also felt frustrated with on account of "a lack of equipment and resources – such as a string orchestra and choir!"<ref name="Gamasutra"/> Follin finds orchestral music inherently more human-sounding and listenable.<ref name="Music 4 Games"/>

===Fandom===
Several contemporaries of Follin's have cited him as an inspiration or top composer including [[Richard Jacques]],<ref name="Game-Online.com: Richard Jacques">{{Citation | last=Fulljames | first=Stephen | date=15 August 2001 | title=Richard Jacques Interview | publisher=ComputerAndVideoGames.com [previously Game-Online.com] | url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=10768 | access-date=4 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528153213/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=10768 | archive-date=28 May 2009}}</ref> [[Jesper Kyd]],<ref name="Music 4 Games: Jesper Kyd">{{Citation | last=Taylor | first=Paul | date=1 September 2005 | title=Interview with BAFTA award-winning Danish composer Jesper Kyd | publisher=Music 4 Games | url=http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=66 | access-date=4 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527205214/http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=66 | archive-date=27 May 2009}}</ref> [[David Wise (composer)|David Wise]],<ref name="Music 4 Games: David Wise">{{Citation | author=Music 4 Games | date=29 July 2008 | title=Develop Conference Interview with RARE's Audio Team: Robin Beanland, Dave Wise and Steve Burke | publisher=Music 4 Games | url=http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=290 | access-date=4 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527203434/http://www.music4games.net/Features_Display.aspx?id=290 | archive-date=27 May 2009}}</ref> Frédéric Motte,<ref name="VideoGameDesign.com: El Mobo">{{Citation | last=Carless | first=Simon (h0l) | year=1997 | title=Fred Motte Interview | url=http://www.mono211.com/gamegeekpeeks/fredm.html | publisher=Game Geek Peeks (reprinted) | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131225050/http://www.mono211.com/gamegeekpeeks/fredm.html | archive-date=31 January 2009 | access-date=4 September 2011}}</ref> Markus Schneider,<ref name="Remix64: Diflex">{{Citation | last=Carr | first=Neil | date=11 May 2001 | title=An Interview with Markus Schneider | publisher=Remix64 | url=http://www.remix64.com/interview_markus_schneider.html | access-date=4 September 2011}}</ref> Matt "Gasman" Westcott,<ref name="Flat Four Radio"/> Ramiro "Extremer" Vaca,<ref name="Remix64: Extremer">{{Citation | author=Klein, Markus (LMan) | date=27 November 2001 | title=An Interview with Ramiro Vaca | publisher=Remix64 | url=http://www.remix64.com/interview_ramiro_vaca.html | access-date=4 September 2011}}</ref> graphic artist Haydn Dalton,<ref name="Games That Weren't: Haydn Dalton">{{Citation | last=Gasking | first=Frank | title=An interview with...Haydn Dalton | publisher=Games That Weren't | url=http://gtw64.retro-net.de/Interviews/hdalton.php | access-date=4 September 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090527185101/http://gtw64.retro-net.de/Interviews/hdalton.php | archive-date=27 May 2009}}</ref> and programmer Dean Belfield.<ref name="ZX Specticle: Dean Belfield">{{Citation | last=McCowan | first=Darren | date=January 2001 | title=ZX Specticle Interviews: Dean Belfield | publisher=ZX Specticle | url=http://www.worldofspectrum.org/zxspecticle/interviews4.htm | access-date=4 September 2011}}</ref> Frequent Software Creations collaborator Steve Ruddy, who programmed music drivers used by Follin with Follin's design input, marvelled "I had no idea how he made it do what it did," and described his music as "astonishing".<ref name="C64.COM: Steve Ruddy">{{Citation | last=Gasking | first=Frank | title=Steve Ruddy | publisher=C64.COM | url=http://www.c64.com/interviews/ruddy.html | access-date=4 September 2011}}</ref>

Regarding fan communities dedicated to arranging video game music, including his own, Follin remarked, "It's really good. A lot of the stuff, you just think 'Well, that's much better than what I would have done... could do now.{{' "}}<ref name="Re:Loaded"/> Follin is consistently mentioned as a favourite composer among European musicians within the Commodore arrangement scene.

Alongside the music of fellow video game music composer [[Rob Hubbard]], Follin's musical work in games was spotlighted in listening stations of the worldwide ''Game On'' exhibition, organised by the [[Barbican Centre|Barbican Art Gallery]].<ref name="Game On">{{Citation | last=Standen | first=Dave | date=27 October 2006 | title=Video Gaming Celebrated in Game on at the Science Museum | publisher=Culture24 [previously 24 Hour Museum] | url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/science+%26+nature/technology/art41236 | access-date=4 September 2011}}</ref>

==Media production career==
Follin has written, directed, produced, and composed for two short films: ''Body Counting'' and ''The Sun Circle''. ''Body Counting'' won the Best Short Film under £5,000 award at the [[Salford, Greater Manchester|Salford Film Festival]] in November 2004.<ref name="Short Films">{{Citation | last=Follin | first=Tim | year=2005 | title=TV Room | publisher=Dr. Follin's Home Surgery | url=http://timfollin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Films.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060108070946/http://www.timfollin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Films.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=8 January 2006 | access-date=4 September 2011 }}</ref>

Since semi-retiring from video game music composition, Follin has gone on to work in the television industry, working as director of photography for TV ads and dramas, as well as creating graphics, CGI, and music for commercials. In April 2010, Follin joined Matt Barraclough and Paul Ambler to form ABF Pictures Ltd., a company making TV commercials, web videos, and music promos. In 2013, he started a company to embrace his various interests and skills, called [[Baggy Cat]] Ltd.

==Personal life==
Follin has expressed that he does not use recreational drugs, perhaps counter to inferences made by fans of his music.<ref name="Tim Forsyth"/>

Follin considers writing therapeutic.<ref name="Commodore Zone"/>

===Family===
Tim is married and has two school-age children. Tim, son of Marjorie Follin, was the youngest of three brothers, all of whom had careers in the video game industry. Oldest brother [[Mike Follin|Michael Stuart (Mike)]] moved on after 16 years as a programmer to become an ordained minister in the [[Church of England]]. Middle brother Geoffrey Mark (Geoff), a fellow game composer who was proficient in several instruments, [[Musical Instrument Digital Interface|MIDI]] software, and reading sheet music, later went on to become a primary school teacher and later a part-time maths tutor while occasionally composing music; he died of [[pancreatic cancer]] in May 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=Video Game Music Legend Geoff Follin Has Passed Away |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2024/05/video-game-music-legend-geoff-follin-has-passed-away |website=Time Extension |access-date=31 May 2024 |date=31 May 2024}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography|Amiga}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20000902184357/http://www.timfollin.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/ "Dr. Follin's Home Surgery" – Tim Follin's homepage]

{{Amiga people}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Follin, Tim}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:21st-century British inventors]]
[[Category:Amiga people]]
[[Category:Chiptune and tracker musicians]]
[[Category:Commodore 64 music]]
[[Category:English male composers]]
[[Category:English video game composers]]
[[Category:Entertainers from St Helens, Merseyside]]
[[Category:Freelance musicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Musicians from Lancashire]]
[[Category:ZX Spectrum]]