This site — tcomwg.com, the home of The Chronicles of the Milky Way Galaxy — is a personal project run by an individual, not a company. The Empire keeps few records of you, but honesty demands we list every one. This page explains exactly what is collected, by whom, and why.
The short version
- We use Google Analytics to see how many people visit — but only if you accept the cookie banner. Reject it and no analytics or cookies load at all.
- Playing a game online creates an anonymous account (a random ID — no name or email) and stores the game and any chat messages while the match exists.
- The contact form sends your name, email and message to a third-party form service so we can reply.
- We never collect passwords or payment details, and we never sell your data.
1 · Analytics (only with your consent)
We use Google Analytics (Google Ireland/LLC) to understand how the site is used. Crucially, it doesnot run until you accept the cookie banner shown on your first visit. If you reject it — or simply ignore it — no Google Analytics script, and no analytics cookies, are ever loaded.
If you do accept, it records standard, non-identifying usage information — pages viewed, rough location from your IP address (which we ask Google to anonymise), device and browser type, and how you move through the site. We use this only to understand traffic, never for advertising. You can withdraw consent at any time using“Cookie settings” in the footer of any page.
2 · The online games
The multiplayer games (Line of Three, Dominion) run on Google Firebase. When you start an online game:
- You are signed in anonymously — Firebase issues a random user ID so the two players in a match can be told apart. This ID is not linked to your name, email or any real identity, and one is kept on your device so you can return to a game.
- A match record is stored while you play: the state of the board, whose turn it is, the players' anonymous IDs, and any chat messages you type. Chat is the only free text we hold — please don't put anything sensitive in it. Match and chat data is game data, kept temporarily and cleared periodically.
Google, as the provider of Firebase, processes the technical requests involved (including your IP address) to run the service.
3 · The contact form
If you use the Contact form, the name, email address and message you enter are sent through Formspree (a third-party form service) and delivered to the site's operator so we can reply. They are kept only as long as needed to handle your message.
4 · Hosting
The site is hosted on GitHub Pages. Like any web host, GitHub may log technical request data such as IP addresses to deliver the site and guard against abuse. We do not control or store those logs.
5 · Cookies & local storage
The only cookies on this site come from Google Analytics, and they are set only if you acceptthe banner. We also keep one small item in your browser's local storage to remember your cookie choice, and — if you play online — a Firebase sign-in token so your anonymous game session persists. These last two are strictly necessary for the site to remember your preference and run the games, and are not used for tracking. You can clear everything at any time through your browser settings, or change your analytics choice via“Cookie settings” in the footer.
6 · Who processes your data
These third parties handle data on our behalf. Each has its own privacy policy:
- Google (Analytics & Firebase) — policies.google.com/privacy
- Formspree (contact form) — formspree.io/legal/privacy-policy
- GitHub (hosting) — GitHub Privacy Statement
These providers are based in, or transfer data to, the United States. They participate in recognised transfer frameworks and offer their own safeguards; see their policies for details.
7 · Your rights
If you are in the EU/EEA or UK, the GDPR gives you the right to access, correct, or delete your personal data, to object to or restrict its processing, and to withdraw consent for analytics at any time. Because the game accounts are anonymous, we usually cannot connect a game ID back to you — but for the contact form, or any request, reach us through the Contact page and we will help.
Our legal bases: consent for analytics cookies, legitimate interest / performance of a servicefor running the games you choose to play, and consent for handling a message you send us.
8 · Children
This site is not directed at young children and we do not knowingly collect data from anyone under the age at which consent is valid in their country. If you believe a child has sent us personal data, contact us and we will remove it.
9 · Changes
We may update this policy as the site evolves — notably when player accounts are introduced, which will add real sign-in details (such as an email) tied to a saved win history. The "last updated" date above always reflects the current version.
10 · Contact
Questions about your privacy, or a request about your data? Reach the site's operator through theContact page.
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