Paws & PinesPrivacy Policy

Playing the game

Paws & Pines can be played offline and does not require an account. Internal test builds may include Google AdMob demonstration advertisements, as described below. There are no in-app purchases, developer-operated online leaderboards or separate gameplay analytics services. The game does not send your saved gameplay records or camera images to us. We do not sell player data.

Test advertisements and privacy choices

The advertising test build uses Google Mobile Ads to request demonstration ads over the internet at breaks between play sessions. These are test advertisements and do not generate advertising revenue for us. Older builds without the ad integration do not make these requests.

Google's advertising components may process your IP address (which can indicate approximate location), app and advertisement interactions, diagnostics, and device identifiers such as app set ID. Google uses advertising-component data for ad delivery, measurement and fraud prevention. Our test requests ask for non-personalized ads and omit the Android advertising-ID permission; this does not mean no data is processed. Google documents encrypted transmission and its SDK data practices. Its handling and retention of data are described in the Google Privacy Policy.

Google's User Messaging Platform checks whether privacy choices are required. We initialize the advertising SDK and request ads only when that platform permits it. If required, a privacy form appears on Home. Where available, Settings → Ad choices lets you review or change your choices. If consent information or an ad cannot be obtained, you can continue playing without that advertisement. The privacy check itself communicates with Google.

Data stored on your device

The game saves your settings, chosen character, introduction progress, selected trail, scores, attempts, previous-run markers and Daily journal on your device so that you can continue playing with your records and preferences. The game uses Android's app storage protections. We do not have remote access to these saves and do not operate a cloud-save service.

Android or your device provider may back up or transfer app data according to your device and account settings. Those services are governed by their own privacy policies and are separate from our game services.

Camera and QR codes

If you choose Scan QR, the game requests camera permission to read a friend's trail code. Camera frames are processed on your device. The game does not save photos or videos from the scanner or upload camera images. Camera processing stops when the scanner closes or the game leaves the foreground.

You can decline or revoke camera permission in Android settings and still play the game, including entering trail codes by typing or pasting them.

Clipboard and sharing

Choosing Paste reads clipboard text into the trail-code field. Choosing Copy code places the selected trail code on your clipboard.

Choosing Share creates a game card in the app's temporary storage and opens the Android share chooser. The card and its accompanying text can include your trail code, score, attempt count or Daily date. The app you select receives that content and handles it under its own privacy policy. Paws & Pines does not post anything automatically. The selected app receives temporary read access to the exported card, not general access to your game files or camera.

Retention and deletion

Local preferences and progress remain until they are replaced by later play or removed. The journal and trail history have a limited capacity, so older records can be replaced. You can erase local game data through Android's app settings by clearing storage, or by uninstalling the game. This resets local progress.

The temporary sharing image is replaced by the next export and can also be removed by clearing the app's cache. Images or messages already saved in other apps must be deleted there separately. Device backups may restore earlier game data; use your device or backup provider's settings to manage those copies. Clearing app data does not delete information already processed by Google; consult Google's privacy controls and policy for its retention and deletion options.

Support and platform services

If you email us, we receive your email address and the information you choose to include. We use it to respond to your request, restrict access to people who need to handle it, and retain it only as long as needed for that purpose or to meet applicable legal obligations. Contact the privacy email above to ask about or request deletion of support correspondence.

Google Play and Android may process installation information, diagnostics, reviews and other platform information under their own settings and policies. Google Play may make app statistics and crash reports available to developers. These platform services are separate from analytics embedded in the game.

Reading this policy online

This privacy page is hosted on GitHub Pages. When you visit it, GitHub may process technical request information such as your IP address to deliver and protect the website under its privacy statement. This page does not include advertising, analytics scripts or tracking pixels.

Changes to this policy

We will update this policy when the game's data practices change, including before introducing live advertisements, purchases or other online services.