Privacy policy
The short version: our games keep your progress on your phone. We don't have accounts, we don't ask for your name, and we don't sell your information. Some of our games show ads from Google, and Google collects some device information to show and measure those ads, as explained below.
Who we are
"UpStream Games", "we", "us" and "our" means UpStream Games, the registered business name of a sole trader based in Queensland, Australia. Contact us about privacy at info@upstreamgames.com.au.
What this covers
This policy applies to the games we publish (in app stores and on web game sites), to the videos and other digital products we sell, and to this website, and describes them as they currently work. Details for each game are listed at the bottom of this page.
Information stored on your device
Our games save your progress on your phone, for example coins, unlocked items, settings, stats and achievements. This information stays on your device. It isn't sent to us and we can't see it. You can delete it with the game's reset option, by clearing the app's data, or by uninstalling the game.
Advertising (Google AdMob)
Games that show ads use Google AdMob. To show, measure and protect ads against fraud, Google may collect and process information from your device, including:
- your device's advertising ID and other device identifiers
- your IP address, which can be used to estimate your general location (such as country or city, not your precise location)
- device and app information, such as phone model, operating system, language and app version
- how you interact with ads and the app, such as ad views, taps and app launches
- diagnostic information, such as crash and performance data from Google's ads software
Google collects this information directly and handles it under its own policies: How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services and the Google Privacy Policy. We don't receive it ourselves; we only see summary reports (such as how many ads were shown).
Your choices. Where the law requires it (for example in the European Economic Area, the UK, Switzerland and some US states), the game shows Google's privacy message so you can give or refuse consent, or opt out, and you can change your choice later in the game's options (see each game's details below). Anywhere in the world, you can reset or delete your advertising ID, or opt out of personalised ads, in your phone's settings (usually Settings → Google → Ads, or Settings → Privacy → Ads). If you opt out you'll still see ads, but they won't be personalised. Google's privacy tools are at myadcenter.google.com.
On iPhone and iPad. The first time you open the game, Google shows a short message, then Apple asks whether the game may track your activity across other companies' apps and websites (Apple's App Tracking Transparency). If you tap Allow, Google can use your device's advertising identifier (IDFA) to show more relevant ads. If you tap Ask App Not to Track, you still see ads, but they aren't personalised using that identifier. The game works exactly the same either way, and you can change your answer at any time in Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking. Google's ads software may also use Apple's SKAdNetwork, which lets advertisers know an ad led to an app install without identifying you.
Purchases
In-app purchases (such as "Remove Ads") are processed by Google Play, or by Apple's App Store for iPhone versions. The store tells the game on your phone that the purchase was made so the game can unlock it. We never see your card or payment details. Your payment is covered by the store's own privacy policy (Google, Apple). The store may give us basic order details (such as an order number and country) for our sales and tax records.
Videos and other products on Gumroad. Digital products we sell through our Gumroad store (such as the NYE Venue Countdown Pack) are sold by Gumroad (Gumroad, Inc., USA) as the seller of record. Gumroad runs the checkout, takes payment and handles sales tax under its own privacy policy. Gumroad gives us your name, email address and order details (such as the product, price and country) so we can deliver your order, help with problems and keep our sales and tax records. We never see your card details.
Asset packs on itch.io. Our asset packs are sold through itch.io (Itch Corp, USA), which runs the checkout, takes payment and handles sales tax as the seller of record, under its own privacy policy. When you buy a pack or pay for the sampler, itch.io gives us your email address and basic order details (such as the product, price and country) so we can help with your order and keep our records. We never see your card details, and free downloads don't give us any of your details.
When you contact us
If you email us, we receive your email address and whatever you include in your message, and we use it to reply to you and deal with what you've asked. Our email is hosted by VentraIP in Australia.
This website
This website doesn't use cookies, analytics or tracking. Our web host (Netlify) may keep standard server logs, such as IP addresses, browser type and the pages requested, for security and to run the site. Links to YouTube, Gumroad, itch.io and social media take you to those sites, which have their own privacy policies.
What we don't do
- We don't ask for your name, email, contacts or precise location in our games, and we never collect your photos.
- We don't have player accounts or profiles.
- We don't sell your personal information.
Some US state laws treat personalised advertising as "selling" or "sharing" personal information even when no money changes hands. You can opt out of personalised ads at any time using the choices described above.
Children
Our games are made for a general audience and are not directed at children under 13. We don't knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or the minimum age in your country). If you believe a child has sent us personal information, please contact us.
Overseas services
Google, Apple, Gumroad, itch.io and Netlify may store and process information on servers outside Australia, including in the United States. Apart from these services, we only disclose information where the law requires it.
Legal bases (European Economic Area, UK and Switzerland)
If these laws apply to you: personalised ads are shown only with your consent, which you can withdraw at any time using the choices above. Non-personalised ads, fraud prevention and measurement rely on legitimate interests (keeping our games free and secure). Replying to your emails relies on our legitimate interest in responding. Gumroad and itch.io order details are used to fulfil your order and to meet our legal record-keeping obligations. For ads, Google is an independent controller of the information it collects.
How long information is kept
Game data stays on your device until you reset it or uninstall the game. Emails are kept for as long as they're useful for helping you or for our records. Gumroad and itch.io order details are kept for as long as we need them for tax and business records (in Australia, generally five years). Information Google collects is kept under Google's own policies.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to ask for access to, correction of, or deletion of personal information about you. Because we don't have accounts, the only personal information we normally hold about you is what you've emailed us, and your order details if you've bought from us on Gumroad or itch.io. For information Google collects for ads, use the choices above or Google's privacy tools. To make a request or raise a concern, email info@upstreamgames.com.au. If you're not satisfied, you can contact your local privacy regulator (in Australia, the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner).
Security
We keep the information we hold to a minimum and use established providers. No method of storage or transmission is completely secure.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time, for example when a game changes or we release a new one. The current version is always on this page, with its "last updated" date.
Game details: Paddler
| Saved on your phone | Coins, unlocked canoes, paddlers, pets and trails, settings, stats, missions, awards, your daily streak and the path of your best daily-race run (your "ghost"). Delete with Options → Reset progress. |
|---|---|
| Ads | Google AdMob: a banner on the menus, occasional full-screen ads between runs, and optional reward ads you choose to watch. Ad content is set to a maximum rating of PG. Consent choices are in Options → Ad privacy choices where the law requires them. On iPhone, Apple's tracking permission (see above) applies. To report an inappropriate ad, use Options → Report an ad or email us. |
| Purchases | None. There are no in-app purchases. |
| Online features | None. No scores, ghosts or other game data are uploaded. |
| Web version | When Paddler is played on a web game site (such as Poki), progress is saved in your browser only, and ads are shown by that site under its own privacy policy. We don't receive personal information from those sites; we only see summary reports such as how many people played. |
| Phone permissions | Internet and network-state access (for ads and purchases), and the advertising ID permission used by Google's ads software. On iPhone, Apple's tracking permission is only used if you tap Allow, and permission to add a picture to your photos is only asked for if you choose to save your score card. No location, camera, microphone, contacts or file access. |
Game details: Shellburst
| Accounts | None. No sign-in, and we don't collect or store personal information ourselves. |
|---|---|
| Saved on your phone | Your progress and settings, such as scores, unlocks, missions, trophies, postcards and your daily streak. They stay on your phone only, and deleting the app deletes them. |
| Ads | Google AdMob. Google may collect device identifiers (such as the advertising ID), your general location estimated from your IP address, how you interact with ads and the app, and crash and performance diagnostics, for advertising and analytics. See How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services. Ad content is limited to general audiences. Reward ads are optional. |
| Your ad choices | Where the law requires it (for example in the UK and the European Economic Area), Google's consent form appears when you first open the game. On iPhone, Apple asks for tracking permission before personalised ads are shown; if you say no, you still see ads, but they aren't personalised. You can change your choices at any time in Options → Privacy options. |
| Purchases | None. There are no in-app purchases. |
| Online features | None. No scores or other game data are uploaded. |
| Phone permissions | Internet access (for ads). On iPhone, Apple's tracking permission is only used if you tap Allow, and access to your photos is only asked for when you choose to save a picture from Share. Nothing from your photos is uploaded or sent to us. |
| Children | Not directed at children. See Children above. |
Contact
UpStream Games · Queensland, Australia · info@upstreamgames.com.au