Corporate Rule
After resource wars and ecological disaster devastated the previous two cities of Sydney, the megacorporations that emerged from the conflict seized control of the state and began to rebuild the world’s cities in their image. The sprawling megacity of Sydney3 stands now as Goliath’s crown jewel and testament to the unrestrained corporatocracy that has taken hold in 20XX.
Remnants of Old Sydney
With little interest in preserving the landmarks or culture of Old Sydney, Goliath has left what remains to rot. The dilapidated ruins of the harbour bridge and abandoned Opera House now cast a haunting shadow over the colossal pit-like public housing complex that forms the bedrock of the city.
Deregulated Industry
Dangerously close to the lower income housing districts, the expansive industrial sectors of Sydney3 create an ominous sea of toxic fumes and smog. Hidden beneath the haze is a complex network of factories, freight lines, and power stations, all running with little-to-no regulation or concern for the safety of its workforce.
Future Farming
Part of Goliath’s control over Sydney3 is derived from it’s monopoly over food produce and waste disposal. Due to the irreparable damage caused to the environment, agricultural land is non-existent in 20XX and most cities rely on artificially grown produce provided by the Goliath RepliFarms to feed their people.
Citywide Surveillance
At the heart of the bustling CBD stands the Advocate Surveillance Panopticon, a towering structure that deploys and controls the citywide drone network watching over Sydney3. Established by Goliath and outsourced to the S3PF, Advocate’s drones are used to monitor all civilian activity and assist in the search for missing persons as well as suspected criminals.
Privatised Police
Control over the city is maintained by an armed police serving Goliath’s interest through the use of a mostly ceremonial police council led by Commissioner Roe. To handle this task, S3PF is divided into two distinct branches; the armed military that forces order through intimidation, and the intelligence branch that handles investigations as well as special operations.
Small Beginnings
On the outskirts of the industrial sector, the original Goliath office still stands in the lower levels of the city. A derelict monument to their humble beginnings, but also a sealed vault of failed experiments and abandoned projects. Left untouched, no one has been inside for years, and what lies within remains a complete mystery to everyone except the company’s board of directors.
Failures of Imprisonment
Steelewater Prison is the largest penal colony on the Australian continent and houses the entire criminal population of Sydney3. Despite decades of protest and calls for prison reform, incarceration rates have seen a dramatic rise with little indication of change. Instead, Goliath has implemented a highly lucrative prison labour system that allows for the cheap production of their goods in exchange for the operation and maintenance of the expansive prison complex.
Death of Independent Media
Through the combined efforts of PauseCo and Goliath, the majority of media in 20XX has been absorbed into the mega-network GNN. Independent companies that tried to resist were steadily run out of business, their studio lots now litter the warehouse districts as ghostly reminders of a once diverse media landscape.
A Shelter From Indifference
Spread throughout Sydney3 are pockets of tight-knit community spirit. Places that provide respite from the harsh realities of living in the corporately run megacities of 20XX. Ostensibly an artist hub, the laneway off Bell Street is one such haven. Home to the Snoofers Bar and the infamous Bell-Voyeur Theatre, this unassuming alley in the lower levels is a place filled with heart and support to their tiny portion of the city.
Rampant Inequality
The privatisation of the police force and all-encompassing control of Goliath has left the majority of citizens in a position of complete poverty and with no protection from the demands of the megacorporations. Unemployment is at an all time high and those that have found work, do so under inhumane conditions.
VRmin Plague
From the industrial sectors and lower levels of the city a dangerous condition is spreading across Sydney3. Born from a new series of VR devices, citizens are succumbing to a parasite that drains their life and leaves them as nothing more than mindless husks, frantically lashing out at anything that comes near them. To defuse growing fears of the plague, Commissioner Roe has implemented an extensive marketing campaign to shift the focus away from Goliath, instead blaming VR addiction and black market vendors for the cause.