Privacy Policy
How we handle your information in the Wizardly Way game and on this website.
Contents
- Who we are
- Summary
- Information we collect
- Website analytics and cookies
- Moot Stone submissions
- Location data
- How we use information
- How we share information
- What other players can see
- How long we keep information
- Your choices and rights
- Children
- Security
- International users
- Changes to this policy
- Contact us
1. Who we are
Wizardly Way is an independent game developed and operated by Sean Murray ("Wizardly Way", "we", "us"). This policy covers the Wizardly Way mobile game (the "Game"), our game servers, and this website at wizardlyway.com (together, the "Services").
For privacy questions or requests, email sean@wizardlyway.com.
2. Summary
| What we collect | Why | Shared with |
|---|---|---|
| Email address, username and password | Create and secure your account, sign you in, contact you about your account | Our hosting provider |
| Game data (character, progress, items, quests, buildings, achievements) | Run the Game and save your progress | Our hosting provider; character name and leaderboard stats are visible to other players |
| Precise device location, while you play | Build the game map around you and place enemies, resources and portals | Our hosting provider and map provider |
| Moot Stone submissions (photo, spot on the map, name, lore line) | Review proposed landmarks and show approved ones in the Game | Amazon Web Services (storage, image moderation); approved stones are visible to all players |
| Purchase records | Deliver in-game items and handle support | Google Play, Unity |
| Device, usage and crash data | Fix bugs, keep the Game stable, understand which features people use | Unity, Google |
| Website usage (pages visited, approximate location, device and browser) | Understand which pages are useful and improve the website | Google Analytics |
| Newsletter email (website) | Send development updates you signed up for | MailerLite |
We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for targeted (cross-context behavioral) advertising.
3. Information we collect
Information you give us
- Account information: your email address, username and password when you register. Passwords are stored by our servers in hashed form, not as readable text. The Game may also save your sign-in details in encrypted form on your device so you stay signed in.
- Character and in-game choices: your character name, starting element and the choices you make while playing.
- Moot Stone submissions: if you propose a Moot Stone, see Moot Stone submissions below.
- Messages to us: anything you send when you email us for support, feedback or account requests.
- Newsletter sign-ups: the email address you enter in a sign-up form on this website.
Information created as you play
- Game data: level, experience, stats, gold and other in-game currency, inventory and equipment, spells and abilities, quests, NPCs you hire, buildings, guild membership, achievements and leaderboard statistics (for example dungeons completed and login streaks), and the date your account was created.
- Purchase records: if you buy something in the Game, we receive details of the transaction (such as product, time and order identifiers) from Google Play and Unity so we can deliver your item. Payments are processed by Google; we never receive your card or bank details.
Information collected automatically
- Location: see Location data below.
- Device and log data: when the Game or website talks to our servers, we and our providers receive technical information such as IP address, device model, operating system and version, app version, and the date and time of requests.
- Gameplay analytics: the Game uses Unity Analytics to record events such as which menus are opened, waves and boss fights completed or failed, and map loading errors, together with device information and an analytics identifier.
- Crash reports: if the Game crashes or errors, Unity and Google Play may collect diagnostic data such as the error, device state and app configuration.
- Website analytics: see Website analytics and cookies below.
4. Website analytics and cookies
This website uses Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors use it, such as which pages are viewed, how long people stay, which links and buttons they click (for example, which FAQ questions they open), and roughly where visitors are (city or country level, based on IP address). Google Analytics sets first-party cookies (named _ga and _ga_*) that last up to 2 years to recognize returning browsers.
- We don't use Google Analytics advertising features, and we don't use the data to show you ads.
- If you visit from Europe, Google Analytics stays off until you choose Accept analytics in the cookie banner.
- You can change your choice at any time with the Cookie settings link at the bottom of every page, or block cookies in your browser settings. Google also offers a browser opt-out add-on.
- We keep Google Analytics data for no longer than 14 months.
Our newsletter provider, MailerLite, also loads a script on this website that may set cookies or similar technologies to display sign-up forms and measure newsletter performance. The Wizardly Way game itself does not use browser cookies.
5. Moot Stone submissions
Players can propose a real-world spot as a Moot Stone, a landmark other players can visit (see the Moot Stone guidelines). When you submit one, we collect:
- A photo of the spot, taken with the in-app camera (gallery uploads aren't allowed).
- The spot's location, and your device's location when the photo was taken, so we can check the photo was taken where the pin is.
- The name and lore line you write.
- Who submitted it and your past submissions, so we can review fairly and prevent abuse.
How photos are handled
- The app resizes the photo and uploads it to a private storage bucket on Amazon Web Services (AWS). The original upload is deleted within 1 day.
- We remove the photo's hidden metadata (EXIF data, including GPS coordinates) and make smaller copies for display.
- Each photo is checked automatically with Amazon Rekognition for unsafe content and to detect whether people's faces are clearly visible. This only detects that a face is present; we don't identify anyone or keep face data. Photos with clearly visible faces or unsafe content are rejected automatically, and borderline cases go to manual review.
- Sean reviews submissions by hand, roughly weekly, using the photo, the pin on a satellite map, the name and lore line.
- Approved photos are published through a content delivery network so every player can see them in the Game. Rejected photos are deleted within 30 days.
What becomes public
An approved Moot Stone shows its photo, name, lore line, its location on the game map, and "Founded by" with your character name, to all players. Each Moot Stone also lists the character names of wizards who visited it in the past week. Only submit spots you're comfortable sharing publicly, and never submit your own home or anyone else's.
6. Location data
Wizardly Way is a location-based game. With your permission, the Game uses your device's precise location while the Game is open in order to:
- load the real-world map around you and turn it into the game world;
- generate and show enemies, resources, portals and other players' world objects near you; and
- place the buildings, waypoints and territories you create at the spot you choose.
Your current coordinates are sent to our servers with these requests so we can return what's nearby. We do not keep a running history of where you have been on your account. We do store the coordinates of things you place in the world, such as buildings, teleportation waypoints and territories, because they are part of your saved game. Keep in mind that if you place your home building at your real home, that location is saved with your account. Server logs may briefly contain request details, including coordinates, for security and troubleshooting.
Map imagery is loaded from a third-party map provider (Mapbox), which receives the map areas your device requests and your IP address.
You can turn location access off at any time in your device's settings. The Game's map features won't work without it. We don't sell location data or use it for advertising.
7. How we use information
- To provide the Game: create your account, sign you in, save your progress and run gameplay features.
- To process purchases and restore items you've bought.
- To show leaderboards and other social features.
- To keep the Services secure and fair, including preventing cheating, fraud and abuse.
- To fix bugs, balance the game and improve features using analytics and crash reports.
- To respond to your messages and requests, and to send account and service notices.
- To send the newsletter if you signed up (you can unsubscribe at any time using the link in each email).
- To comply with the law and enforce our Terms of Service.
9. What other players can see
Your character name and leaderboard statistics are shown to other players. Your character name also appears as the founder of landmarks and Moot Stones you found first, on "Cleared by" markers on rifts you seal, and in the weekly visitor list of Moot Stones you visit. Approved Moot Stone photos and their locations are visible to all players. Buildings, territories and other objects you place in the world, and your guild membership, may be visible to players in that area. Please don't use your real name or other personal details as your character name. Your email address is never shown to other players.
10. How long we keep information
- Account and game data: for as long as your account is active. When you delete your account, we delete your account and game data within 30 days, except where we must keep limited records for legal, security or fraud-prevention reasons. Your name is removed from founder credits, "Cleared by" markers and visitor lists. Approved Moot Stones you founded may stay in the game for other players, without your name.
- Moot Stone photos: original uploads are deleted within 1 day; rejected photos within 30 days; approved photos stay as long as the Moot Stone is in the game.
- Purchase records: as long as needed for accounting, tax and refund purposes.
- Server logs: for a limited period, typically no longer than 90 days.
- Game analytics and crash data: according to Unity's and Google's retention settings.
- Website analytics: no longer than 14 months in Google Analytics.
- Newsletter: until you unsubscribe.
11. Your choices and rights
- Location: turn location permission on or off in your device settings.
- Emails: unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time.
- Delete your account: see the Delete Account page.
- Game analytics: you can ask us to stop analytics collection tied to your account by emailing us.
- Website cookies: use the Cookie settings link at the bottom of any page.
Depending on where you live, including the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom and U.S. states such as California, Colorado, Connecticut, Virginia and others, you may have the right to:
- know and access the personal information we hold about you, and get a portable copy;
- correct inaccurate information;
- delete your information;
- object to or restrict certain processing, and withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
- opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information for targeted advertising (we don't do either); and
- not be discriminated against for exercising these rights.
To make a request, email sean@wizardlyway.com from the address on your account and tell us what you'd like. We may need to verify your identity. We'll respond within the time required by law (generally within 30 to 45 days). You can use an authorized agent where the law allows. If you're in the EEA or UK, you also have the right to complain to your local data protection authority.
Legal bases (EEA/UK): we process account, game, location and purchase data to perform our contract with you (providing the Game); security, anti-cheat, crash and analytics data based on our legitimate interests in running a safe, working game; newsletter, website analytics cookies and, where required, game analytics data based on your consent; and some data to comply with legal obligations.
12. Children
The Services are not directed to children. You must be at least 13 years old to create an account, or older if the law where you live requires it (for example, 16 in some European countries without parental consent). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has given us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
13. Security
We use reasonable safeguards to protect your information, including encrypted (HTTPS) connections, hashed passwords and access-restricted servers. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we can't guarantee absolute security. Please use a unique password for your account.
14. International users
We are based in the United States and our servers are located in the United States. If you use the Services from outside the U.S., your information will be transferred to and processed in the U.S., where data protection laws may differ from those in your country. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards offered by our service providers, such as Standard Contractual Clauses.
15. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as the Game develops. We'll post the new version here and update the date at the top. If changes are significant, we'll give notice in the Game or by email before they take effect.
16. Contact us
Questions or requests about privacy: sean@wizardlyway.com