Orten Was The Case news & patch notes

After getting enough time, and Access to a Mac computer, I finally managed to build the game for Mac. So if you own a Mac and want to play Orten, now you can! If you find any bugs, please join the Discord and let me know so I can fix it Discord Have a great weekend!

- A new "Biggest fish" leaderboard is now available. - Fixed a bug where checkpoint on rooftop would not trigger

Happy new year! And thank you everyone for all the amazing feedback on the game so far, and all greatly appreciated bug reports! Here's a changelog of some fixes: - Fixed triggers for ~10 events that did not work preventing save file to be able to get to 100% - Sneakers not showing correctly on checkpoints - Game got locked when Abo screamed - Mark on hand after using checkpoint - Fixed some interactions not working with correct button when rebinding "Interact" - Cash bundle showing wrong UI - Removed an unintentional interaction point in Tram room that made you walk out of bounds - Being able to grab water tower ladder from outside - Missing Dialogue on Minne by Abo Panel that soft-locked the game If you find any more bugs, or if this patch introduces and new one, please join Discord and report them there: Discord

Well Ziggys the time has finally come! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/32225ac9fec494fe61e8d5bd639c814a2a558c7d.png That’s right, Orten Was The Case, the free movement puzzle/adventure game where you play as Ziggy, the anti-hero stuck in a time loop has now launched. We’re really excited to see what you get up to exploring the world and discovering all that Orten Was The Case has to offer and how you will spend your last 12 minutes before the time loop kicks in again! So what are you waiting for? The world isn’t going to save itself and you’ve only got 12 minutes to do it!!! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/7af64663e2f051823046ac196af074a546b1d5a8.png Peace Oskar (Woodhill Interactive)

Hey Ziggys! Do you like the idea of being able to play Orten Was The Case while traveling? What’s Orten Was The Case? Well, it’s a free movement puzzle/adventure game where you play as Ziggy, stuck in a time loop reliving the last 12 minutes of the world looking to save it! Anyway, as we were saying, want to play it on the move? Well some great news is that we’ve tested it loads on Steamdeck and it works really well. We would love it if more people played so that Steam can learn about its usage on the Steamdeck. We want to get it Verified and the only way is if more people play the game on the Steamdeck. So what do you think? Can you help Ziggy save the world (even while traveling or perhaps from a park bench)

The soundtrack is mostly custom made for Orten Was The Case, but also contains goodies from the Woodhill archives. Late nights in the studio all types of radio commercials and different jams are recorded, some of them found their home in the game. Credits goes to Carlheim, for producing all audio for Orten and putting it in the game, and Max Galax for the fantastic keyboard that sets the mood right from the start. And all other Woodhill originals that contributed with their voices and instruments. Spotify YouTube Deezer /O

Hey everyone, we're almost there! The game will be in your hands on November 29th. Listing below some of the unique aspects why you should play Orten Was The Case. Stuck in a Time Loop - Ziggy wakes up one day with a strange mark on his hand, clueless about what happened the night before. After a couple of minutes lost amongst the familiar streets of his suburb, Orten, an explosion brings him back exactly where he woke up moments before… He’s stuck in a time loop. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/51605668c95aa7c580e9e182cf0b708a73bae599.png Not everything is What it Seems - With no shoes or recollection of the past, Ziggy goes on a mission to discover what the hell is going on and how to avoid the destruction of his city. This won’t be easy though, cause the more he snoops in the wrong places, the more he learns that his hometown has a lot of secrets hidden. His weird neighbors become weirder, and he can only rely on his friends, and on his highly reliable brain. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/7af64663e2f051823046ac196af074a546b1d5a8.png Knowledge is Power - If the day repeats over and over, then how can one progress? That’s the catch: Knowledge is your key to progress in Orten. Each loop you go through, you will learn something new that will let you progress the story further. With this time loop mechanic, you’ll retain clues, notes, and timeline events, eventually knowing how you can change the future in just 12 minutes on a casual Sunday. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/d3aebe97142f3835ee38df0fdcb5419247ab56c4.jpg A Beautiful and unique Art-Style - Orten Was The Case offers a fully hand-painted art-style and a 2,5 D design. Walking around the town feels like evolving in a painting, a very stunning and curious one that is! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/9f9d97c914cb66a6e8ed529b7b6d945417e124f2.png Don't forget to wishlist the game! And thank you if you already did! Peace out, Oskar (Woodhill Interactive)

Heyya Ziggys, How is it going? We have a few updates we would like to share with you as we continue to refine and improve your Orten Was The Case experience.

First up, we've got "Arachnophobia mode" as an option, which reduces the spider's legs from eight to two. This option also equips them with boxing gloves for some entertaining encounters with the creature. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/6828466102f05f89d879e00dfce6f07c9728f142.png Next on the list is "Strobe Sensitivity." We understand that strobe lights in the disco room can be a bit overwhelming for some players. That's why we're introducing an option to turn off the strobe lights, ensuring a smoother and more comfortable gaming environment for everyone. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/8b69966a4492d38fbbcece82d240518ab4239212.jpg We're also taking steps to cater to the hard of hearing with our "Hearing Impaired" option. This addition provides a visual clue alongside an audio hint, making sure that no one misses out on critical game information, regardless of their hearing abilities. New Skill levels have also been added. Building on earlier updates, we've expanded the range of difficulty levels for hints and combat. You can now customize your gaming experience to suit your skill level perfectly. Whether you prefer an easier experience following the story or a more challenging one, you can enjoy the game at your own pace and leisure. Another essential option we had previously introduced included an "Automatic Edge Stop" option to prevent accidental falls or missteps in the game by automatically stopping your character at the edges. We hope you're as excited as we are about these new additions to the game. Happy gaming, and keep an eye out for more exciting updates in the future! See yah soon!

Hey, Ziggys! We have some exciting news for you! First, we are thrilled to share that Orten was the Case will participate in the Indie Arena Booth (IAB) at Gamescom starting August 23rd, 2023. The in-person event will be held in Cologne, Germany. There will also be an online Steam event where we will stream the latest version of Orten was the case.

{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/8d6b7d862f10834de26418b8a91e7a4b7b861230.jpg This will be a chance for us to meet in person and talk about our MetroidBrainia game! We will be able to demonstrate the different innovative concepts and ideas we have implemented to ensure you have a fantastic gaming experience at the event. For our fans who will not be in attendance, we got you. All our moments will be captured and posted on our official Instagram page {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/537182255d762c59799ed75fc56b09667b56d630.png And that's not all. We are also happy to announce the game is now content-complete! What does this mean, you ask? For starters, bringing to life the town of Orten is now done. This includes the main story and we can't wait for you to experience firsthand what it feels like to be stuck in a time loop. Think of it this way. You need to save the town from a nuclear bomb explosion. No pressure, though. It's not like you have lost your memory …… {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/881a9deb64ee7c962ae7442d8e04db16aa547333.png Getting to this point is a great milestone for us. Lots of internal testing has been done and continues to be done to help weed out the bugs and provide the ultimate experience for you on launch day. See yah soon, Oskar, Woodhill Interactive

{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/48ae07edfa09f3c6a8c249944ca5f57d58a09c39.jpg

Ey Yo, my Orten people! Ziggy here. So, It's been a while since I talked about my encounters with Orten folk. See, my life is no game. It's real. Not every day you wake up without your memory, all while stuck in a time loop. On top of that, I must play hero to save my town from being completely wiped out.

{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/881a9deb64ee7c962ae7442d8e04db16aa547333.png The relationships I have formed with my amigos keep me going, though. I have already told you about one of my best friends. Mekonnen, the graffiti-loving troublemaker. But what's better than one best friend? Two best friends! You may have met her, but no harm, no foul in meeting her again. So let me introduce you to my other best friend, Shaiko. Oh, wait. There she is. What is she doing in the sewers? {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/753263066fc4295121cad80ea81007b764fd7130.png Shaiko likes to keep tabs on my gang and our mischievous activities. Her fascination with conspiracy theories has led me to discover a world full of secrets and hidden agendas in Orten. It's unbelievable how much her presence is crucial for my survival. Without her, I'd be totally done for. Her impact on everything is massive, even though she's not directly connected to all the strange events happening in Orten. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/03b0918f57d6a6915f83dae39ed8b15107ba90b1.png Here’s the thing. I shouldn’t be admitting this since Gunnar, that trigger-happy copper, is always lurking, but what’s the thrill of being a rebel without the danger of getting caught? Shaiko and I have agreed to handle a drug trade for - he whose name shall not be mentioned. (I just know him as Gordo). Have you ever heard of getting high on your own supply? Shaiko invented that. The other day she told me, “ Ey Ziggy - listen, You know weed is from the Earth. God put this here for me and you. Take advantage, man.” {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/2f19d9d2964d251f63eae4241d0ef2b41ea3ffcc.jpg Ey, the clock's ticking. I gotta run. Got some Para (money) to make. Ziggy out!

Join our Discord and be part of the Orten was the Case community. Please also wishlist the game on Steam and welcome Ziggy to your world!

Greetings, people of Orten! For this week, I will do the Ziggy talks a bit differently. Today, we learn more about the game genre that inspired the creation of Orten was the Case known as MetroidBrainia. Heard of them? The name’s a bit of a tongue twister, depending on where you are from 😀

{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/cb258dd8bcec2d20087e869972dca7fb027bb10f.png In simpler terms, MetroidBrainia games are brain teasers and are a sub-genre of the widely popular Metroidvania games. Your problem-solving and memorizing skills are put to the test through knowledge puzzles. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/8c153dfd487033f72e1ab8b6093f88d15b0480a8.png In that regard, Metroidbrainia games are thus all about unlocking new areas from knowledge gained while playing the game. They also frequently showcase interconnected maps, intricate level designs and a sense of backtracking to discover hidden places within the game. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/4a70bd0e11d03d99c5e32f2f30bffe8ec80112a2.png For players who have been to Orten, this should sound familiar. Allow us to set the scene for people yet to experience what that is like. Imagine waking up one day and your memory is completely wiped out. You are also stuck in a time loop, so there is no escaping your nightmare. Add a nuclear bomb wired to destroy the whole town (Orten) and only you can save it. Plus, there are all types of weird and creepy stuff happening with the Orten Town folk. How high do you rank your chances of succeeding? {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/7af64663e2f051823046ac196af074a546b1d5a8.png By accepting this offer, you are officially the new Ziggy in town. Ziggy, of course, being the character you play as in the game. See yah soon, Ziggys! Oskar, Woodhill Interactive.

Join our Discord and be part of the Orten was the Case community. Please also wishlist the game on Steam and welcome Ziggy to your world!

Ey Yo, my fellow graffiti enthusiasts and fans of mischief! Ziggy here! I am told you voted on the best character you have met in my world and my best amigo, Mekonen, was number one on your list. Can't blame y'all. Mekonen is that friend who loves the thrill of adrenaline rush and I am here to paint a picture of who he is. Yes, Ziggy loves puns too!

{STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/ad499335f3e0988cb75fed9d6148af4986d5da07.png So, A bit of a back story about Mekonen. He may not call Orten his permanent home, but his artistic ambitions are rooted in this gritty town. His grandma, bless her soul, lives in Orten and has been a pillar of support for Mekonen's graffiti endeavors. That reminds me. With my memory not what it used to be, I should visit her in her apartment. I bet she has lots of stories about Orten. She loves fishing too. I can earn some para by helping her catch some fish. {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/6d5b4af500879020ad112bb278c5dd0dfaca67af.png When Mekonen and I team up, we are rebels with a cause. We're not your average troublemakers; we're the kings of chaos. You'll find us out and about most days, leaving our colorful mark on the city walls. We are thrill seekers always thinking of some next-level stunts that will have Orten talking. We recently sprayed graffiti on a moving subway train. It was a risky move, but hey, Adrenaline Rules! Gunnar, that trigger-happy cop, was not too happy. Wait... Shhh!!! I hear him coming. https://cdn.akamai.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1785420/ss_f894b318d9ff5ccf77856b4bfc08417a3ed7bf40.1920x1080.jpg?t=1683277580 I have to run, but something has been bugging my mind. When I woke up today, I looked at the Me and My Crew picture and saw Mekonen goes by another name. Silky. He refuses to tell me what it means. Maybe someone from the town kno….. Chill. IS THAT A DEAD BODY?!!! {STEAM_CLAN_IMAGE}/41441036/9f6268a182255fa8684a999a15374148264eaefd.png

In this quick-fire Q&A session with Otres, the lead dev at Woodhill Interactive, we learn a few things about Orten Was the Case and our favorite hero Ziggy. Thank you for turning up!

https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1785420/ss_32f298c22f77f3cdea22b6d6cdd09238314cff8d.jpg?t=1683277580

Lewis, community rep: Greetings, Otres. Big Ziggy Fan here. Right off the bat, I have to ask why the name Orten was the case? It has a nice ring to it with a touch of mystery.

Otres: Interesting that you think of it that way. I named the game after one of my favourite songs from Snoop Dog's album, Doggy Style. The song’s name is Murder was the case.

Lewis, community rep: At the beginning of the Game, at the Me and My Crew Picture, are those your friends?

Otres: The characters are fictional, but I and some friends had a crew when we were 14 years old that we called Me And My Crew. As for their names, they are somewhat random except Ziggy. Ziggy is a homage to one of Sweden's very first graffiti writers.

Lewis, community rep: Been playing the game for hours. It's very easy to be tempted to explore everything and forget there is a time limit.

Otres: Yes! So I have put lots of work into getting the game to this stage and I am glad you are having fun working out what is needed for the ultimate Orten was the Case experience. Exploration will help in the long run since you may remember to quickly get to a place you have been before. https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1785420/ss_f403e40429198fdebc7f30d7c8afd77a4859fe63.jpg?t=1683277580

Lewis, community rep: What's an easy fix for anyone who may be having issues trying to boot up the game?

Otres: Make sure you have updated your Steam before starting the game. Secondly, make sure you do not have outdated graphics drivers! Update them too.

Lewis, community rep: It's one thing to play a game. It's another thing to make it. For People who are still finding their way to making indie games, what's your advice to them?

Otres: Making a game is quite a hill to climb, but still, I had no doubts. that I couldn't do it. The question was not whether I should make a game. It was; why shouldn't I? https://cdn.cloudflare.steamstatic.com/steam/apps/1785420/ss_948b78d4fb5d4364fbf7ee13065fe08eda2ab99d.jpg?t=1683277580

Join our Discord and be part of the Orten was the Case community. Please also wishlist the game on Steam and welcome Ziggy to your world!

Orten wouldn't be Orten without its inhabitants and Orten’s community still has a few empty seats to fill. It’s time for Orten was the Case’s third community challenge and it will (once again) take place in our Discord Hope you all enjoyed last month's fishing challenge because we certainly did! After a nailbiter finish, we ended up with two winners who caught exactly the same weight fish (5.98kg!) For the next challenge, we dare you to fail! and fail FAST! It will be speedrunning with a twist: The fastest time from leaving Ziggy's trailer to the death screen by any in-game method (YOU DIED letters show up, no editing game files!) is your objective, the means are yours to come up with. No checkpoints just regular spawn from the trailer (doesn't have to be a new game though). The competition will run from NOW until tomorrow (Sunday April 23rd) 11.59 pm CEST Join our discord and share your VOD in the #community-challenges channel in the discord and voila! You are in the competition! Just like last time we’ll also be handing out custom discord titles among participants in addition to our first-place prize.

Orten wouldn't be Orten without its inhabitants and Orten’s community still has a few empty seats to fill. It’s time for Orten was the Case’s second community challenge and it will (once again) take place in our Discord Hope you all enjoyed last month's speedrunning challenge. This time we are taking things a little bit slower with a nice and relaxed (or one can wish for) Fishing Competition! Biggest fish caught at the end of the event will be our winner and eligible for a Physical prize! The event starts Friday 10th of March and ends Sunday 12th of March. Show us your catch through a stream, a VOD or a screenshot in the #community-challenges channel in the discord and voila! You are in the competition! Just like last time we’ll also be handing out custom discord titles among participants not just winners. Who cares about saving the city from exploding when there is roach, bass and pike to be caught? Fishing in Orten isn’t as simple as luck and blind button mashing - you will need to figure out the tools of the trade.

Developer showcase Orten Was The Case

Developer showcase Orten Was The Case one ingame loop

Developer playthrough of Orten Was The Case DEMO for Steam Next Fest

Huge thank you to all who have played and left feedback on the Demo so far! I've been constantly working on improving the experience and these are some things I've done and bugs I've fixed: - The boss now has music and SFX! :o - It's now possible to descend ladders, whereas before you had to fall down and take some fall damage (: - The basketball obviously was a big frustration to a lot of players. So I've added a dialogue, that if you miss a couple of times, tells the player to come back when they learnt how to do it. - I also made the basketball easier to score, when you actually know the way to do it. - I polished some collision to prevent getting stuck (Still lots to do but working on it) - I added a little more guidance and dialogue to lead player on the way on the first objective. - Addressed a bug where cop would trigger a dialogue every time you stepped into his trigger, becoming very annoying. + A number of minor fixes. Best /O

The demo version features the first few quests for the player to try out.

The beta version features the first few quests for the player to try out.

Orten Was The Case is a single-player, puzzle/adventure/mystery game with a time-loop mechanic. Set in a fictional Swedish suburb (Orten). This stream is a developer walkthrough of one in-game loop, where the very first objective in the game is completed.

Orten Was The Case is a single-player, puzzle/adventure/mystery game with a time-loop mechanic. Set in a fictional Swedish suburb (Orten). This stream is a developer walkthrough of one in-game loop, where the very first objective in the game is completed.

Pre recorded gameplay