SOPA and PIPA are two dubiously-named and appallingly-written bills that various corporations in the U.S. would like very much to see signed into law. While they purport to aim at stopping online piracy, the vague and poorly-considered language in these bills would actually be far more effective towards the goal of stifling expression and innovation on the internet at large.

Wikipedia has a nice write-up here that should get you up to speed.

As a struggling start-up game company that relies entirely on the digital sale of our content to make a living, Final Form knows the impact of online piracy better than most of these bills’ authors. Our first (and so far, only) game Jamestown has been downloaded illegally countless times, so please believe that we understand that piracy can make life hard for creative industries.

However: even though we think the bulk of online piracy is categorically lame, the SOPA and PIPA bills are not going to do anything useful to solve this problem. Moreover, we would never trade in the internet’s freedom of speech in exchange for what they seek to accomplish. Someday, there may indeed be legislation that takes a responsible and technically-informed run at creating enforceable intellectual property protections online, but today is not that day. What we need is a scalpel, and what we’re getting from our government is a diesel backhoe.

So if you’re interested in supporting the continued existence of the open, secure, and free Internet that you’re reading this on right now, please join us in the fight to stop these bills from being signed into law.

Today marks our first full-team workday back in the office since the Holiday Juggernaut Of Savings started to drive its promotional deep-discount drillbit through the month of December. Thanks to its tireless efforts, we have emerged here in 2012 with a few updates to share:

• We were fortunate enough to participate in the most successful Humble Indie Bundle to date! In addition to being very good for a deserving charity or two, the bundle’s sales also made a real difference for several indie studios (including us!). Thanks for your support, Humble Bundlers!

• Also fortunate: our participation in Steam’s Holiday Sale, complete with special gift pile achievement and a daily deal on Christmas Eve! We thank you also, Steam cheeve-sploiters!

• Jamestown (and its DLC) is now available on PC, Mac, AND Linux! Thanks for waiting, you bosom friends from distant shores!

• Main effect of being involved in those promotions: lots of new users! Welcome! Thank you!

• Side effect of all those new users: lots of new bugs! Dang it!

As you might expect, we’re about to embark on Jamestown BugBash 2012: The Bashening. In the coming weeks, we’ll do our best to address as many of the known issues as we can. We hope to patch soon on all platforms, and will let you know (where you = the internet at large) as soon as the first batch of fixes goes hot. For your patience, know that you have our thanks.

BONUS NEWS:

• We’d like to introduce our very first official programming intern, the extremely talented and also-still-in-high-school Drew Wallace! He’ll be working with us for the month of January, and by “working with us,” of course I mean “hurtling at breakneck speeds through a terrifyingly dense and complicated game-programming boot-camp/obstacle-course/torture-chamber of Tim’s devilish design.” Nevertheless, we have high hopes that his dishwashing skills will soon rival our own. Programming! Programming skills! Did I say dishwashing?

• Displaying what can only be described as sound judgement (PUN 2X!), indie-darling-to-be Tom Francis has selected a trio of musicians for his upcoming master-spy-meets-malevolent-electrician espionage game Gunpoint, and our very own Francisco Cerda is among them! Well done, Francisco! We are now even more excited about this game than we already were!

FINALLY:

This is just to say, to all our players, contributors, reviewers, distributors, friends, and most of all our families: thank you for your support. The possibilities of 2012 seem to stretch out towards the horizon in all directions, and we can’t wait to pick a heading and start putting more miles on this company’s tires.

We’re glad to be with you, friends of Final Form, here at the beginning of the next thing.

Sincerely,
Mike, Tim, and Hal

Yes, folks: offical Jamestown merchandise, suitable for the workplace or distinctively-attired night-on-the-town, is now available!  Okay, maybe not suitable for all workplaces.  A government job might be a reach.  Or, like, an oil rig.  But you get the idea: PRETTY DARN CLASSY.

The nice folks and avowed Jamestown fans over at sinn d’signed have taken a unique approach to game fashion with their new player_1 line of garments, where (to crib shamelessly from their own words on the subject) “the spirit of each game is celebrated in a sophisticated and fashionable way.”  They’ve already released a neato Space Pirates And Zombies shirt in a similar style, their Jamestown shirt just dropped, and they have a few others in the pipeline.  Follow ‘em on twitter to get in that loop!

I’m not going to promise that this news comes just in time for the holidays, but it certainly might if you act fast!  Consign yourself to the Gifting Hall Of Fame with that special gamer in your life!



And remember: THAT SPECIAL GAMER MIGHT EVEN BE YOU.

Humble Indie Bundle 4 is available as of today, and even if we weren’t in it (which we totes are), we would still immediately categorize it as a Dreadnought-Class Über-Bundle, Mark 4.  LOOK AT ALL THIS HEAT IT’S PACKING:

———————————————

Jamestown

(awwww yeah first on the list cuz this is our blog)

The Jamestown Original Soundtrack

(not a game, but putting it on this list anyway cuz damn, y’all)

Super Meat Boy

Bit.Trip Runner

Shank

NightSky HD

Plus, all you gotta do is beat the average to throw these bad boys on the pile:

Gratuitous Space Battles

Cave Story +

———————————————

Not only is this bundle to be feared and respected, but also purchased at whatever price you think is fair for 5-7 seriously excellent games, plus a little sugar for a few of our fave charities (Child’s Play and the American Red Cross).

Of course, all these games are DRM-free, and all of them will run on PC, Mac, and Linux.  So yes, those of you who are sensitive to context clues are absolutely right: Jamestown is now available for the Mac and Linux!

We are thrilled to be keeping such amazing company in this bundle (SRSLY HOW RAD IS THAT LINEUP?!?!) and we hope you find it to be exciting as well.

Now.  If you are reading this on the same day that we posted it, you have just fourteen days to convert this information into a fun-filled holiday for you and yours.  Don’t kid yourself: a train this fast and sexy isn’t going to come back into the station for a good long while, SO GET IN HERE!

Hello there! It’s been a busy week. Briefly:

We have released our very first DLC! Jamestown: Gunpowder, Treason, & Plot is now available at Steam for just 2 bucks, but it’ll go back up to 3 in a few days, so get while the gettin’s good!

It features three new ships and their historically-semi-accurate pilots, which are discussed and characterized (at length) here.  There is also a mysterious fourth bonus ship!

And that’s all very cool.  But the big news I wanted to share today is something that’s been cooking over here at Final Form HQ for even longer than the DLC has:

THE JAMESTOWN SOUNDTRACK IS UP ON BANDCAMP, Y’ALL!

Classy!

Our virtuosic composer Francisco Cerda (who composed the bombastic, fully-orchestrated score for the original game) has been hard at work putting together this soundtrack.

It features extended and remastered versions of several favorite tracks (including the 9-minute long “Lost Temple of Croatoa Suite” which simply must be heard to be believed), in addition to a special bonus track – the game’s main theme revisited for solo piano, performed by Francisco himself.

For those of you who are curious about Francisco’s process and inspirations, he gave an extensive interview with www.3dgames.com.ar right after the game’s original release.  It’s full of anecdotes and insights into how the Jamestown score came to life, and you can read it right after the jump:

***

INTERVIEW WITH FRANCISCO CERDA: COMPOSER OF THE SOUNDTRACK OF

JAMESTOWN: LEGEND OF THE LOST COLONY

Interviewer: ChamaLeona, for http://www.3dgames.com.ar/

As soon as Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony was installed, I clicked Play and fled to the kitchen to start cooking lunch. Then, it happened that an extraordinary music made the floor tremble. And, I was still in the kitchen, now fascinated. Sudden images invaded my brain such as scenes of Braveheart, Lord of the Rings, and probably Sean Connery’s King Arthur, with his Scottish accent. That day, lunch got burned.

My first exclamation was “It’s been ages since I don’t listen to something like this! And it’s new! And it’s original!” I was stunned. Then, I propelled myself into the adventure, what music proposed, and floated over the alien tides of Mars as I combated against the Spanish fleet.

The game is a whole success in the indie world: it was selected among the Top 10 Indie Games of PAX and will participate at “The PAX 10”, due by the end of August in Seattle. There, as Final Form Games site announced, the three men of Philadelphia who gave birth to Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony will meet their forth man: the composer of the game’s soundtrack, Francisco Cerda.

Francisco is 100% Chilean talent and, as many of us (or, may I say everyone?), got raised with the influence of arcade machines and videogames consoles. That influence would later define his career as a musician. In this interview, by chat, Francisco tells us about how videogames marked his life, the story that links him with Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony, the musical composition process for an indie game, and his projects.

Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.

Well, I am a musician. I studied piano, I am engaged in different projects like teaching and, eventually, composing and arranging music.

Is Jamestown your first composing project for a videogame?

Not exactly.

What other videogames did you work with?

When I was 14, I programmed my first playable videogame. The funniest thing is that it was a vertical shoot’em up, like Jamestown, with a screen filled with bullets and all that. Bullet Hell. As I was working with the programming, I started creating the music for that videogame. Those were my first compositions. I used a program called Scream Tracker. At that time, I only played a little guitar, by ear. I did’t really understand what was happening, musically speaking. Eventually, I realized that the only reason I was programming a videogame was the music. So, that is how I quitted computing and started working in what I do now. Hehe.

So, you already had a story with videogames. Which videogames were the ones you first enjoyed?

The first ones… I think it was Digger. Then, my parents brought the NES home and there I met Mario Bros, Contra… But, the one that influenced me the most was Megaman.

In what way did it make an influence? I mean, why Megaman, specifically.

The music. It was Megaman 3. To me, the best videogame soundtrack ever. The level of emotion and energy is outstanding. I would spend all day singing the melody.

It’s funny when you come to think that someone can be singing Jamestown melodies right now. It’s amazing that you create such memorable music. After exiting the game, you still remember the melody.

Exactly. That was the main goal.

How did Final Form Games get in touch with you?

In 2008, I traveled to the USA and stayed at a friend’s house. And, there was a piano there…

What a coincidence…

I spent all day playing and it turned out that the owner of the piano, my friend’s roommate, was a videogame programmer: Tim Ambrogi. He would listen to me playing. I would improvise or play classical music that I was studying at that time. One day, I showed him a couple of adaptations of Contra and Robotech. They are on my YouTube’s channel.

I saw the videos. They’re amazing. Was Tim the creator of Jamestown?

Yes, he was one of the programmers. The other one was Halsted Larsson. And, Mike Ambrogi was in charge of the art.

The game is unbelievable. I imagine that you played it before us.

Hahaha. Yes. My name is among the Beta Testers list. There were moments in which I spent more time playing the game than composing.

How was the composing process, creating the music for Jamestown? Did they send the material without any music? Was it online? Or else, did you fly to the USA?

I did it all in Chile. When I met Tim, back in 2008, he asked me if I was interested in composing the soundtrack for a videogame they were considering creating. Two years later, I got an email where he basically said “Let’s do it.” They told me about the game, the concept, the story: Red Coats in Mars on steam engines. They told me they wanted an orchestral soundtrack, epic, something that enhanced the Steampunk aesthetic.

Then, you composed the music without having an idea of… for example, the art of the game? Not even a sample?

Nothing. They sent prototypes all the time and I created the music as the different levels appeared.

So, it all happened at the same time: the composition kept up with the game making.

Exactly. Sometimes, levels were ready and I only had to create something over that. Or, they wanted music to have some specific moments, as in the case of Dark Sector’s break. Other times, I composed the music and they later created the level, as in the case of Croatoa.

So, now, when we get to Croatoa, we know that your music inspired that imminently lethal bombing.

That’s right.

That is just like saying that, in some way or another, you created Croatoa.

Hahaha. No. They created the concept.

What inspired you to compose the music for Jamestown?

Well, I was influenced in lots of ways. I tried to create a soundtrack that had variety, as if it was an album, the album of a band, in which every song has an identity. The guys at Final Form Games definitely wanted an orchestral soundtrack.

And, what came to your mind when they said ‘orchestral’?

Soundtracks from relatively old sci-fi movies like the Alien trilogy and videogames such as Final Fantasy VII and StarCraft. On the other hand, I always had Bach in my head and other more contemporary musicians as Stravinsky. I also tried a crossover with other genres.

We hear different sounds throughout the game and there is an evident break when we enter New Madrid, for example. The same when we enter, as we mentioned before, Croatoa.

That’s right. For example, East Frontier, the first track I created, is more electronic. It’s an attempt to combine both the orchestral style Final Form wanted and the Megaman chiptuned sound. There is also a great influence of anime throughout the tracks.

Which anime did you think of?

Good question. The truth is I don’t know. Maybe, it was the aesthetic, the melody, the harmony of the world of anime, of J-Pop and J-Rock. Evangelion could be part of that influence.

It’s true. I keep listening, and I can find all that you’re saying.

In the end, there is also some influence of metal rock in the soundtrack. Dream Theater and Symphony X, especially.

We can say there is recipe here: Bach + anime + Metal + Movie Soundtracks.

Hahaha. Sure.

Well, you had fun.

Yes. There were also stressful times. Some tracks were finished and recorded in a day. Some others left me sleepless for a week.

Which ones left you sleepless?

Dark Sector and the last track: Conquistador, song of the last Boss.

So, he became some kind of a ghost for you, too.

Something like that. The truth is that, when I created the track, the boss was still unfinished. It was just a sprite floating in the middle of nothingness. There’s a little homage to Sephirot and Bach’s Mass in B Minor.

We should have a listen to them.

Hehe. The Mass is long. But, there is clear influence of the first sections, Kyrie Eleison and Crusifixus. I wanted to create something similar to that. The interesting thing about all this is the process. I would create the music after some instructions and references Final Form gave. Then, I would send some music and they gave me their feedback, with indications about what they thought suitable or not. Then, I tried to apply their suggestions. Some times, it was hard to assume some of their instructions. For New Madrid, we created four different versions.

What did they want for New Madrid?

First, I proposed a song that was absolutely Megaman-like (now, the credits track), I though the music needed a radical change at that point of the game. They wanted something that matched the art of that level, not a track that evoked a sensation of satisfaction, but one that caused tension. At first, I found it hard to give in, and I tried to convince them by all means possible. I even called a friend to play the electric guitar and create a more attractive sound. But, in the end, I realized we were a team, and we had to work for the game’s sake.

Are you satisfied with the results?

Definitely. Sometimes, I found it hard to understand that I had to compose a track from the very beginning.

The twist in the music when you get to New Madrid is definitely amazing.

Right. When you are engaged in a creative process, you must remain open. Final Form Games consists of three people and, in general, they discuss all their decisions before reaching a conclusion. They experiment, improvise and rehearse everything until they find the answer that satisfies everybody. It was hard to keep up with that dynamism. I was used to work alone. I think this was one of the most valuable lessons I learned during the whole process.

So, now, you will have more consideration to whatever anyone proposes.

That’s right. We have to move forward, all together. To think as one. This orderliness and dedication made Jamestown a cult game.

The last two questions: the first one is related to Jamestown being an indie game. How do you think indie games are evolving as compared with mainstream ones?

Honestly, I am not 100% familiar with this because I don’t play much now. In general, I am the kind of person that enjoys watching others playing instead of holding a joystick. But, considering what I’ve been reading in forums and other sites, I think that making indie games involves risk, originality and an amount of work and devotion that is not always seen in mainstream games; in which case, you generally got two hundred people developing a game as if it was office work. There is no paraphernalia and sensationalism in indie games. Instead, they make use of simplicity and beauty. That is, to me, what makes it more appealing, and, at the same time, addictive.

The last question: what projects are you in at present? Will there be a new videogame soundtrack in the near future?

Now, we are working with the final touches of Jamestown OST, that will include never- heard material (the tracks that were not included in the game). On the other hand, Jamestown was selected for the PAX10.

I read you’re flying to Seattle in August, is that right?

Yes. I’m making a mini-concert and performing the soundtrack of Jamestown and other videogames.

It sounds fantastic. And, do you play alone? I mean, all alone?

That’s right. Some songs will only be piano adaptations. And, there are some arrangements I am still defining.

By the way, I haven’t asked before, did you compose and record all the music on your own?

Yes. It was all performed with VSTs (virtual instruments), but I made the most so that they sound more realistic.

It really sounds realistic. When you listen, you imagine the whole orchestra.

It was all played on a keyboard, save for the electric guitar on the credits track. There was no programming on the sequencer. I mean, there was lots of editing, but human interpretation is there, in some way.

Then, next thing will be releasing the Original Soundtrack of Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony and the PAX10, which I believe it’ll be awesome. The guys at the Steam forums were amazed by the music in Jamestown.

Yes. I’m surprised. The shmup is a dead genre. Only a few understand it, but it seems that everyone liked Jamestown. I would love to have more chances to compose the soundtrack for other videogames. Working with Jamestown was like a dream come true. It was fun and educational. One thing: I want the next project to be totally different, I mean, musically speaking. I want to create a whole new thing. I don’t want to be stuck in a ‘formula’.

I read you participate in many bands: one is a progressive metal project, another one is a cha-cha-cha orchestra. Is this right?

Yes. I’ve worked with an improvisational theater company called Colectivo Mamut for six years. At present, we work in a TV show called ‘Los improvisadores’, the Chilean version of ‘Who’s Line Is It, Anyway?’ There, I have to provide live music for the stories they improvise, at the audience’s suggestions.

That must be hard! After six years, are you still surprised with what can come out?

Yes, I still laugh a lot. Sometimes, I can’t perform because I’m laughing.

On what channel is the show airing?

Via X, channel 24. It’s a Chilean cable channel. There is a video on my blog where you can see an excellent improvisation, and you can hear the music. I am not in the video because I did not appear at that time.

Do you, now?

Yes, everyday. I also play with a Chilean balada singer, Andrés De León. And, I play in a progressive metal band called Versus, and a salsa, mambo and cha-cha-cha orchestra, Mambocha. Eventually, I teach, very intensively. And I expect to finish programming my game, some day.

You really keep busy. Well, Francisco. Is there anything else you want to say? Something for the readers?

Yes, thanks to all who played Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony and supported the project. And, thanks to all who listened to my music while playing.

I believe the answer would be: Thank you!

Follow Francisco Cerda at his Oficial Blog: http://fcocerda.blogspot.com

The Jamestown OST is available now for $4.99 on Bandcamp and Steam.

I could spend some time writing about the emotional rollercoaster of getting to this moment. Fact is, I want to. I think it’s a pretty good story.

However, as the stalwart long-time True Fan readers of this blog know, we do tend to get a bit extemporaneous and long-winded when we’re reminiscing. Never fear! Today’s post is going to break that tradition and cut right down to the chase! IN EMPHASIZED CAPS!

——(the chase follows)——

JAMESTOWN IS GOING TO BE AT PAX PRIME THIS YEAR, AS ONE OF THE PAX 10.

YES, THAT PAX 10.

WE KNOW. SOMETIMES, THE WORLD IS SO CRAZY THAT IT JUST MIGHT AWESOME.

FINAL FORM GAMES WILL BE ROLLING TO SEATTLE, AND WE WILL BE ROLLING DEEP! IN ADDITION TO THE CORE TEAM OF THREE PHILADELPHIANS, WE WILL BE JOINED BY “THE FOURTH MAN,” OUR INESTIMABLY TALENTED AND CHILEAN COMPOSER FRANCISCO CERDA.

IF YOU SEEK OUT OUR BOOTH FOR THE TWIN PURPOSES OF PLAYING JAMESTOWN AND/OR WORSHIPING AT FRANCISCO’S FEET, YOU WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR QUEST.

AT TIMES, YOU MAY HAVE TO WORSHIP FRANCISCO IN THE PAX JAMSPACE, WHERE HE WILL BE PERFORMING SELECTIONS FROM JAMESTOWN’S SCORE LIVE IN CONCERT.

FINALLY: EVERY ONE OF THE PAX 10 GAMES THAT WE’VE ACTUALLY PLAYED IS COURAGEOUS AND FUN. WE SEE NO REASON TO BELIEVE THE OTHERS WILL BE ANY DIFFERENT. WE WILL BE HONORED TO STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THEM, IN THE AUGUST HALLS OF GAMEHALLA.

The Gamehalla we're referring to.

So: come say hi! Bring your friends!  We can’t wait!  For some of you, this will be your first chance to experience the blistering funsplosion that is 4-player co-op! For others, this will be your first time playing the game at all! To be present for either of those moments would be a true honor for us, so don’t hold back! Exclamation point!

We’ll post updates as our PAX plans solidify. For now, the weather forecast for Seattle says to prepare for rain…

…A RAIN OF COUNTLESS PINK AND BLUE PIXEL BULLETS LOLKPLZBYE!!!1!

Looked something like this. Unclear if giant statue of Powhatan is to scale.

JAMESTOWN: LEGEND OF THE LOST COLONY HAS BEEN RELEASED INTO THE WILD!!!

Steam put us on their front page for four glorious days. Right next to Duke Nukem Forever. How crazy is that? HOW AWESOME?!?

Not only is the game out, but people have been playing it and writing what they think about it! On the internet! Here’s a sampling from the first batch of reviews (emphasis ours):

“As for the game proper, it’s just a class act. The range of enemies, the design of them, the placing of them, the way they burst in a shower of nuts and bolts that you’ll want to collect, the way the guns feel, the music, the pacing, it’s all fabulous.” – Rock, Paper, Shotgun

“The environments, the enemies, the troops fighting in the background – every single graphical element of this game is absolutely stunning, to such degree that even those who don’t care for pixel art are sure to be pleased with how Jamestown looks. Every inch of the screen suggests lovingly handcrafted and passionate art, and soaring through it all was a joy.” – Bits ‘n Bytes Gaming

“…one thing’s for sure: if you had told me that Jamestown was Final Form’s first title, I wouldn’t have believed it. … Accompanying the stellar design are a stellar soundtrack and sound effects. The music in Jamestown is indistinguishable from a big-budget epic soundtrack, and the game’s sounds are an excellent mixture of retro and modern shoot ‘em up titles.” – GamerLimit

“In a world of me-too shooters plagued by uninspired presentation and flat gameplay, Jamestown is a standout, a breathtaking experience that not only hearkens back to the golden age of gaming but also smartly offers fresh game mechanics at every turn. Jamestown has rock-solid mechanics, beautiful art direction and depth of content, and it’s a pure joy to play.” – Press X or Die

And for those of you who think reading is so 2010, here are some of our favorite video reviews/first-looks:

ByteJacker –  “I gotta tell you: this thing, with four Xbox controllers, and an HDMI out to your TV, has got to be, like, THE definition of kick-ass gaming. It’s just really, really amazing.“

NorthernLion –  “One of the best indie games I’ve played this year and, as you know, I’ve played pretty much all of them.”

Total Biscuit, The Cynical Brit –  “One of these is homing! ALL OF THESE ARE HOMING!“

Our profuse thanks go out to all the writers, commentators, and pundits who spent some time with our game, and then made the effort to tell the world about it!

This is Jamestown running in a player's arcade cabinet. Guess we can check THAT off the ol' Impossible Dream list!

Overall, the response to the game has been overwhelmingly positive. Players have been going out of their way to let us know that they’re having a blast playing Jamestown, which is like a firehose of warm-fuzzy-feelings right into our sleep-deprived hearts. So, to everyone who has been tweeting, posting, and emailing us with kind words: Thank you, thank you, a thousand times, thank you!

We’re also thrilled and gratified by the community that’s forming around the game. Watching our players help each other learn to play, post expert sessions on YouTube, stream Divine Gauntlet runs live from Japan, and energetically debate the finer points of Bomber usage in our Steam forums has been a true joy.

Finally, it should go without saying that we are extremely flattered (and somewhat taken aback) to see our little game being compared to the works of CAVE, Takumi, Treasure, and ZUN. That said, their influence on Jamestown is hopefully unmistakable; they are our heroes, after all.

Much like that very first fort at the actual Jamestown colony, the first build of our game was hardly the last. Right now, we’re working hard to fix bugs, answer emails, and keep getting the word out about Jamestown. If you want to help us with that last bit, and you love the game, then please don’t be shy about telling the world! Our twitter hash-tag is #jtown16xx; go nuts!

More updates to follow. Until then: thanks again, and enjoy playing!

It’s official!

On June 8th, Jamestown is coming to Steam, Direct2Drive, and GamersGate.

See ya there!

-Tim, Mike, and Hal