Last updated: 4 June 2025
Indie Games Startup LLC (“Indie Games Startup”, “we”, “our”, “us”) respects your privacy. This page explains what personal data we collect through www.indiegamesstartup.com (the “Site”), why we collect it, how we use it, and the choices you have.
1. Who we are
- Legal entity: Indie Games Startup LLC, a Delaware limited-liability company.
- Contact for privacy matters: privacy@indiegamesstartup.com
2. What data we collect & why
| Category | Examples | Purpose / Legal basis* |
|---|---|---|
| Comment data | Name, email, IP address, browser user-agent when you leave a comment | Spam filtering, displaying your comment on the Site (legitimate interest) |
| Contact / deck-request forms | Name, email, organisation, message | Respond to inquiries, send investor materials you requested (contractual necessity) |
| Newsletter sign-ups | Email address | Deliver dev blog updates you opted into (consent) |
| Usage / analytics | Pages visited, actions, device & browser info, anonymised IP | Improve Site performance and content (legitimate interest) |
| Media uploads | Images you upload (may include EXIF GPS) | Display on Site; we advise stripping location data before upload |
| Cookies | See § 6 | Remember preferences, enable log-in, measure traffic (consent where required) |
* “Legal basis” terminology addresses GDPR visitors; for US visitors our basis is the equivalent lawful purpose.
3. Embedded & third-party content
Posts may embed YouTube videos, Steam widgets, Twitter/X posts, etc.
Interacting with that embedded content is the same as visiting the third-party site directly; it may set its own cookies or collect data under its own policy. We have no control over those services.
4. Who we share data with
We do not sell or rent your personal data. We share it only with service providers who help us run the Site and have signed data-processing agreements:
- Automattic / WordPress.com – comment hosting & Gravatar avatar display
- Google Analytics – aggregated, anonymised traffic analytics
- Mailchimp – newsletter distribution (only if you opt-in)
- Akismet – automated spam detection for comments and forms
Each provider is contractually bound to process data solely on our instructions and to apply industry-standard security.
5. How long we keep your data
| Data type | Retention policy |
|---|---|
| Comments & metadata | Indefinite, so follow-up comments appear seamlessly |
| Contact / deck-request submissions | 24 months, then deleted unless we start a business relationship |
| Newsletter list | Stored until you unsubscribe (link in every email) |
| Analytics logs | 26 months, then automatically deleted |
| Cookies | See durations in § 6 |
6. Cookies & similar tech
| Cookie | Purpose | Expires |
|---|---|---|
comment_author, comment_author_email | Remembers your details for future comments | 12 months |
wp_logged_in_ | Keeps you logged in (if you create an account) | 2 days (14 days with “Remember Me”) |
wp-settings- | Stores display preferences | 1 year |
_ga, _ga_* | Google Analytics anonymised visit tracking | 26 months |
cookie_notice_accepted | Stores your cookie-banner choice | 6 months |
You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings; the Site will still work, but certain features (comment autofill, analytics opt-out) may not.
7. Your rights
If you reside in the EEA, UK, or another jurisdiction with similar laws, you may:
- Access the personal data we hold about you.
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Delete certain data (“right to be forgotten”).
- Object to processing for direct marketing.
- Withdraw consent at any time (e.g. unsubscribe link in emails).
Email privacy@indiegamesstartup.com with your request; we may verify your identity before acting. We will respond within 30 days.
8. Data transfers
Our servers are located in the United States. If you access the Site from outside the US, you consent to transferring your data to the US, which may have different privacy laws than your country. We rely on Standard Contractual Clauses with our service providers to safeguard data transferred from the EEA/UK.
9. Security
We use HTTPS encryption, least-privilege admin roles, regular plugin updates, and automated malware scans. No method is 100 % secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect your data.
10. Children
The Site is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such data, contact us and we will delete it promptly.
11. Changes to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy to reflect new features or legal requirements. Any material changes will be posted here with a new “Last updated” date and, where appropriate, announced via the dev blog or email.
Questions?
Email privacy@indiegamesstartup.com and we’ll be happy to clarify.