Tim & Geoff Follin's development disk archive, containing music and sound files from their work at Software Creations, has been successfully preserved and made available online. This significant achievement in video game music preservation was accomplished by Kevin Edwards, a former colleague of the Follin brothers at Software Creations.
The archive covers the period from 1987 onwards and was originally stored on 13 Tatung Einstein 3" flippy disks. These disks were kept by Tim Follin and initially donated to Dean Belfield, another Software Creations alum, who uploaded what he could to GitHub. Recently, Edwards took on the task of re-archiving the collection from scratch, using custom hardware and software to recover more of the lost and missing data.
Key points about the preserved archive:
1. Content: The collection includes music and SFX source files for platforms such as the C64, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC.
2. Notable games: It features Tim Follin's work on microcomputer versions of games like Bionic Commando, Ghouls 'n Ghosts, Peter Pack Rat, LED Storm, and more.
3. Music Driver: The archive contains several versions of the Music Driver program created by Software Creations' audio programmer Ste Ruddy, which Tim and Geoff used to compose their music.
4. Mixed content: The collection includes a combination of final, work-in-progress, and possibly unreleased or unfinished material.
5. Accessibility: The files are now available on GitHub for public access and study.
This preservation effort is particularly significant given Geoff Follin's recent passing, as it ensures that these legendary soundtracks are preserved for future study and appreciation. The Follin brothers are renowned for their innovative and influential work in video game music, often creating impressive soundtracks for unexpected titles.
For those interested in exploring the archive or learning more about the Follin brothers' work, the preserved files can be found on GitHub, though it's worth noting that the file names may not always correspond directly to the music they contain.
GitHub - KevEdwards/TimGeoffFollinMusicDevDiskArchive: Tim and Geoff Follin's Music Development Disk Archive ( Software Creations )
Tim and Geoff Follin's Music Development Disk Archive ( Software Creations ) - KevEdwards/TimGeoffFollinMusicDevDiskArchive
github.com
