Privacy Policy — Smudge: Light & Shadow Puzzle

Maivika ("we") publishes the light and shadow puzzle game Smudge: Light & Shadow Puzzle (Smudge for short, formerly "Shadow Escape"; app id com.maivika.shadowescape) for Android and iOS. This policy explains what data is collected and how it is handled when you play Smudge.

The game has no accounts, needs no sign-in, never asks for your name, e-mail or phone number, and we run no server that stores your data.

Your level progress, stars, shadow shards, daily puzzle streak, Shadow Dust, hint and skip tokens, unlocked lamp styles, purchase status (e.g. "Remove Ads") and settings (language, sound, vibration) are saved LOCALLY on your device only. This data is never sent to us and is deleted when you uninstall the app.

The free version shows ads served by Google AdMob: a banner along the top edge of the screen, an occasional full-screen ad between levels, and optional rewarded videos you choose to watch (for a hint or bonus Shadow Dust). The game uses Google AdMob only, with no other ad networks or mediation partners.

AdMob may collect device identifiers (such as the Android advertising ID / IDFA on iOS), approximate location derived from your IP address, and ad interaction and diagnostic data to serve, measure and frequency-cap ads and to prevent fraud. Google Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy — how Google uses data from partner apps: https://policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.

Where required by law (e.g. EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland and certain US states), you are asked for consent through Google's consent form (User Messaging Platform) and can change your choice at any time via the Privacy button in the game. On iOS, the game asks for tracking permission through App Tracking Transparency; if you decline, ads are not personalised with your identifier.

Buying "Remove Ads" (or the No Ads Bundle) turns off the banner and between-level ads. Rewarded videos remain optional.

On Android, the game sends gameplay events through Google Analytics for Firebase to balance difficulty and improve the game, for example "level 12 started", "level 12 failed", "hint used", "rewarded ad watched", "purchase completed", plus diagnostic and performance data. It also uses Firebase Remote Config to download settings (such as ad frequency) without an app update.

This data contains no name, e-mail or account. Firebase uses an app-instance identifier, device model, OS version and country/approximate location derived from IP. In regions where consent is required, analytics storage is only enabled after you agree through the privacy form. How Google handles Firebase data: https://firebase.google.com/support/privacy.

The iOS version currently does not use Firebase.

Purchases (Remove Ads, No Ads Bundle, Starter Pack, hint packs, skip packs) are processed entirely by Google Play Billing or the Apple App Store (StoreKit). We never receive or store your payment details; the app only receives a confirmation of what you bought so it can unlock and restore it (Restore purchases). Purchase events (product id, price) may be recorded in the analytics described above.

When you choose to share, the game creates a link like https://maivika.com/se/... and an image, then opens your system share sheet; you decide who receives it. The game never reads your contacts and sends nothing unless you tap share.

The code in a link contains only the puzzle state (level number, lamp positions, number of tries, stars, daily streak), never your name, a device identifier or other personal data. For hint links the code sits after the "#", so browsers never send that part to any server.

The maivika.com/se/... page only offers buttons to open the game or get it from a store. Like any website, the server may keep technical logs (IP address, browser, path) for operation and security. On Android, if you install the game from a share link, the Google Play Install Referrer tells the game which link it was, so it can open the puzzle your friend sent.

Google AdMob and Google User Messaging Platform (advertising, consent form); Google Analytics for Firebase and Firebase Remote Config (analytics, remote configuration, Android only); Google Play Billing and the Apple App Store (payments).

We do not sell your personal data.

Uninstalling the app removes all data stored on your device (progress, items, settings). Paid items can be restored with Restore purchases.

Analytics data is retained by Google under the Firebase / Google Analytics retention settings. You can withdraw consent via the Privacy button (where applicable) and reset or delete your advertising ID in your device settings.

To request deletion of data related to Smudge, e-mail [email protected] with the subject "Smudge data deletion". Because the game has no accounts, we may ask for a few details (such as device type and install date) to locate the analytics data and ask Google to delete it. We respond within 30 days.

The game's content is rated for all ages (3+), but it is not directed to children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal data, contact us and we will delete it.

Depending on your region (e.g. EU/EEA under GDPR, California under CCPA/CPRA), you have the right to access, correct and delete your data, and to opt out of personalised ads. Contact [email protected] to exercise these rights.

We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version is always posted on this page with its update date.

For any privacy questions, contact us at [email protected].