Privacy Policy
This policy explains what information Southbound Flock (“the game”, “we”) collects when you play at playsouthbound.com, how it is used, and the choices you have. The game does not ask for your name, email address or account details to play.
What we collect
| Information | Why | Where it is kept |
|---|---|---|
| A random device identifier, created the first time you play | To recognise your pilot when you come back, so your records stay yours | In your browser's local storage. Our server stores only a one-way hash of it, never the identifier itself. |
| The nickname you choose | Shown above your bird, on the records board, and next to feathers where you crashed | On our server, and publicly visible to other players |
| Gameplay data: your position while flying, speed, altitude, distance, knockdowns, and where you crashed | To run the shared game world and the records board | On our server; crash locations and records are visible to other players |
| Game preferences: your local best distance and which records tab you last viewed | Convenience | Only in your browser's local storage |
| The days you played, and the day you first played | To measure, in aggregate, how many new players come back a day or a week later | On our server, as part of your pilot record (only the most recent 40 days are kept) |
Where your visit came from: a tag in the link you followed (for example ?ref=hn) or the name of the website that linked to us | To learn which places bring new players | Counted only as a daily total per source on our server, not stored with your pilot |
| Your IP address and basic connection details | Needed to deliver the page and keep the game connection open | Processed by our server while you are connected. We do not keep access logs of IP addresses. Our application logs record nicknames and connection numbers, not IP addresses. |
Please do not use your real name or other personal details as your nickname. Other players can see it. Nicknames are checked against a list of offensive words, and we may change or remove a nickname that breaks the terms.
Sharing a run
When you use “Share this run”, the link includes a code that identifies your pilot (derived from the hashed identifier above, not the identifier itself). Anyone who opens your link sees your nickname and best distance as a challenge to beat. Nothing is shared until you choose to share.
Statistics
We keep daily totals such as page loads, flights started, crashes by region and minute of flight, wins, the busiest moment of the day, and how many new players each source sent. These totals do not identify anyone.
Fonts
The site loads its fonts from Google Fonts, so your browser connects to Google's servers, which receive your IP address. See Google's privacy policy.
Advertising and cookies
We use Google AdSense to show ads around the game. Google and other third-party vendors use cookies and similar technologies to serve ads based on your prior visits to this site and other sites on the internet.
- Google's use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visits to this site and/or other sites on the internet.
- You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. You can also opt out of some third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising at aboutads.info, or, in the EU and UK, at youronlinechoices.eu.
- To learn how Google uses information from sites that use its services, see How Google uses information from sites or apps that use our services.
If you visit from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, you will be asked for your consent before personalized ads are shown, and you can change your choice at any time through the privacy message link on the site. The game itself does not use cookies; it uses local storage only for the items listed above.
How we use information
- To run the shared game world, show other players to you, and resolve collisions between birds.
- To keep the records board and show your personal bests.
- To prevent cheating and abuse, for example rejecting impossible movement.
We do not sell personal information, and we do not use the game's own data for advertising profiles.
How long we keep it
Pilot records (nickname, the hashed identifier and your records) are kept for as long as the game runs, so the records board stays meaningful. Crash feathers are limited to the most recent 200. You can ask us to delete your pilot record at any time (see below).
Your choices
- Clear your data from this browser: clearing this site's data in your browser settings removes your device identifier and preferences. You will appear as a new pilot next time.
- Delete your records: email us from the contact page with your nickname and roughly when you last played, and we will remove your pilot record.
- Advertising: use the opt-out links above.
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct or delete personal information about you, or to object to how it is used. Contact us and we will respond within 30 days.
Children
The game is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
Changes
If this policy changes, we will update the effective date at the top of this page.
Contact
Questions about privacy: see the contact page.