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The district on the far edge of Boomtown, once a place for the lost, those that fell between the cracks, and those without a home, has been suddenly thrust into the centre of Boomtown’s story as Area 404 now leads the future of Boomtown, after winning last year’s election. 

404 residents initially step out of the shadows, updating their industrial squat frontages and scraps of armour with neon lights and anarchist graffiti. Renegade punks and outcasts reside here, with The Guardians overseeing the District as the newly appointed official police.

Chief Guardian Mr Biga - appointed by The Collector - has opened a boot camp to train more Guardians for the cause. Once a beacon of rebellious community spirit, the atmosphere in Area 404 takes an odd turn. Drunk on their newfound power and convinced by Mr Biga that they must hold onto that power with an iron fist, The Guardians become disrespectful to other residents, fleecing them with ‘official’ fines.

The Luck Exchange have expanded operations from Letsbe Avenue to Area 404, helping the Guardians manage the governing paperwork, giving out ‘work permits’ to allow new Guardians to be trained. 

The Collector is nowhere to be seen, with only the occasional official broadcast. When campaigning, he was out in the streets all the time, so this shift is also worrying… Forged from the mistakes of the past, a hopeful beginning is taking an ominous turn for Boomtown’s newly appointed lead District…

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As the roots of Botanica deepen further into the earth and surrounding buildings, the last remnants of structures past crumble away, and new life continues to blossom. 

The Great Mother, after spening many months seething from her electoral defeat last year, is determined to get her revenge as she plots in the depths of her plant-based temple. Competing with The Collector, she plans to conduct a great ritual, sacrificing her followers and firing herself into her own portal in Botanica to ASCEND her whole community! 

Temple of Zero has undergone a transformation amid rumours of a deeper connection with the group known as Shadow Post. Together they are said to be investigating a mysterious phenomenon that relates to the stolen Nanco photocopier, IONA, and the missing postal workers.

Visit Thrutopia for a chance to stop, reflect and learn. Taking a step out of the busy streets and dive into talks and workshops to reconnect with yourself.

The concept of Thrutopia has been inspired by conversations our creative team has had with the inspiring author Manda Scott. Here’s a brief introduction to her teachings on Thrutopias.

Imagine waking up excited for the day because life feels full of possibility. For many people, that kind of joy feels out of reach. We live in a world shaped by stress, fear, and systems that don't work for most people or the planet.

But it hasn't always been this way. Across history, some communities chose to live more fairly, more creatively, and more in harmony with nature. We've just stopped telling those stories.

Now, with climate change and rising inequality, it's clear we need a new direction. And stories are one of the most powerful ways to show what's possible. They help us imagine a future that's better for everyone.

If we want real change, we need stories that inspire it, and anyone can be part of that. It starts with imagining something better.

If you have an idea for a workshop, follow this link to apply!

The year is 1925, and Copperwood continues to flourish. The previously frugal area is now exploding with art, culture and parties, the roaring twenties brought to dizzying heights. 

Last year Von Vanderhaus’ hit film The Monsters We Make was met with critical acclaim, Edna Von Vanderhaus has moved to the district permanently and, after her election loss, has instituted herself as the District’s ‘Creative Director’. Production for VVH’s new film ‘RACE TO THE RED PLANET’ is well underway with VVH discovering a new cinematic frontier: Actual Live Sound!

Copperwood is now the epicentre of the movie-making industry, with artists and creatives flooding the area to take advantage of the thriving artistic possibilities. But this influx of people is not just due to the industry, but rather an all-encompassing, utopian lifestyle led by Edna Von Vanderhaus. Keen to capitalise on the obsessive nature of the die-hard VVH fans, Edna has turned Copperwood into a film-lovers utopia, going as far as to offer fans the opportunity to live amongst the characters from their most popular films in a new settlement they are coining ‘Von Vanderland’ - The Picture Perfect Town!

Oldtown is the founding root of our now sprawling city, populated by circus hustlers, fortune tellers and lovable rogues. As the neighbouring district Area 404 expanded after winning last year’s election, cautious Oldtowners, sensing impending turmoil, followed their intuition and moved their entire district. Taking their buildings down brick by brick, and putting them back together as best as they can… a topsy turvy vision of Oldtown has reappeared at the top of the hill.

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After a hard year of moving their entire community, Oldtowners have had enough of Boomtown. Rufus the Red and The Den of Dis Order have begun a separatist movement to found a new country; ‘The People’s Republic of Oldtownia’. Meetings on how to run their self-governed nation have begun in earnest, with much to talk about. 

Letsbe Avenue is the linchpin of the town, full of the public services you would find on any high street; the loyal, reliable, and hard-working stalwarts of the city reside here. The locals are friendly, but watch your step - everyone knows everyone, and order will be kept at all costs!

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Following district Spokesperson Patrick Kahn’s loss in the 2024 elections, BLEP (Boomtown eLection oPportunities) have since rebranded, once again, to BLIP (Boomtown Lifestyle Important Product), with Patrick Kahn as their ever-charming head salesman. 

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The BLIP is the hot new product flooding the streets, available only to Letsbe Avenue VIPPs…

Metropolis is a vivid techtopia of enhanced indulgence. Although cutting-edge developments show a way to a better future, quality of life stalls behind technological progress for the majority of residents. Screens and buttons continue to milk dopamine for resident digital hedonists, engrossed in individual, filtered, algorhythmic realities and projections of themselves. Hypnotised by bright lights and shiny buttons, residents are mostly unfazed as they struggle to stay grounded in reality. Isn’t this all a simulation anyway?

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Metropolis Leader and CEO of Bettercorp™ Aurora Venturestone, once complaining that the 2024 election was a fix, has left all of that behind to put her full support behind The Collector and his chief aide, Mr Biga. She has since been appointed ‘Chief of Digital Communications’ for Boomtown - running the new government's media machine under Bettercorp™’s new wing; ‘BettercorpMedia™’.

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With Area 404’s newly appointed Police - The Guardians - helping her run Metropolis, as well as her lucrative Black Goo side hustle, she has little need of the inGeniuses – the Betterverse™ crystal has fallen into disrepair, and Bettercorp™ employees have been victims of huge layoffs – and yet Bettercorp™ records unprecedented profits. 

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Rumour has it that the unemployed InGeniuses are offering illegal ‘urban explorer’ tours inside the broken Betterverse™ - for a price. But beware –  the tech is unstable, with a high risk of trapping visitors in Digital Foreverness, forever.