Chesses Privacy Policy
- Playing offline (against the AI, Pass & Play, or the campaign) sends nothing to us. It all stays on your phone.
- Online play needs a little data: an anonymous account ID, your games, and a token so we can tell you when it's your turn.
- Signing in with Google is optional. If you do, we receive your name, email address and profile picture link.
- No ads. No analytics or tracking. We never sell your data.
- You can delete your online data at any time in the app (Settings → Online Account), or by emailing braincampwa@gmail.com.
Who we are
Chesses is made by Brain Camp LLC, 736 8th Ave NE Unit 211, Issaquah, WA 98029, USA. In this policy, "we" and "us" mean Brain Camp LLC. Questions about privacy go to braincampwa@gmail.com.
What we collect, and when
Offline play
Games against the AI, Pass & Play, the campaign, your settings and your saved games are stored only on your device. We do not receive them.
Online play
The first time you open Online, the app creates an anonymous account for you through Google Firebase Authentication. It has a random ID and no name or email attached. With it we store:
- Your games: the variant, every move, which account played which side, the result, invite codes, and when the game was created and last played.
- A notification token (Firebase Cloud Messaging), so we can tell you when it's your turn or your opponent offers a draw.
- Your progress: campaign unlocks and Gambit progress, saved with your account so they are not lost if you reinstall or change phones.
- Public lobby name: if you host a public game, it is listed for other players with a display name. That is your first name if you signed in with Google, otherwise a randomly generated name such as "TallFrog". Private games are never listed.
- Fair-play reports: if the app detects a move that breaks the rules, it records the game, the move number and the account that sent it, so we can investigate cheating.
Signing in with Google (optional)
If you choose to sign in with Google, Google shares your name, email address, profile picture link and Google account ID with us. We use them to keep your online account and progress across devices, to show your picture in the app, and to show your first name (never your full name or email) as your lobby name when you host a public game.
Scanning invite QR codes
Scanning a QR code uses Google Play services' code scanner. The camera image is processed by Google on your device; we never receive it, and Chesses does not ask for camera permission.
Diagnostics
The app may keep a short log of errors on your device. It is never sent automatically. It can only be shared through a hidden developer tool, by you, to wherever you choose.
What we do not collect
We do not collect your location, contacts, photos, files, browsing history, or advertising ID. There are no ads and no analytics or tracking tools in Chesses.
How we use it
- To run online games between players and deliver moves.
- To send turn and draw-offer notifications.
- To keep your progress tied to your account.
- To list public games in the lobby.
- To detect and investigate cheating.
We do not use your data for advertising, and we do not sell or rent it.
Who can see it
- Other players see the moves of games you play with them. Players browsing the lobby see your public games and their lobby name.
- Google stores and processes the data for us as our service provider (Firebase, part of Google Cloud). Google's handling is described in the Firebase privacy information.
- We may disclose data if the law requires it.
Where it is stored and how it is protected
Online data is stored on Google Cloud servers, which may be in the United States or other countries. It is encrypted in transit, and security rules limit each account to what it needs: for example, nobody can browse other players' private games.
Deleting your data
To delete your online account and everything stored with it (games, progress, notification token, Google sign-in details), open Chesses and go to Settings → Online Account → Delete my online data. It takes effect immediately. If you no longer have the app, email braincampwa@gmail.com with the subject "Delete my Chesses data". If you can, include your lobby name or the invite code of a recent game so we can find your account. We will delete it within 30 days and confirm by email. Moves in games you played against other players are removed along with your account.
Offline data lives only on your phone; uninstalling Chesses removes it.
Online games that nobody plays for 30 days are closed automatically, and open games nobody joins are closed after 7 days.
Children
Chesses is designed for players 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has signed in or played online, contact us and we will delete the data.
Your rights
Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, or delete your personal information, or to object to how it is used. Email us and we will respond within 30 days.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we will update the date at the top and, for significant changes, tell you in the app.
Contact
Brain Camp LLC
736 8th Ave NE Unit 211, Issaquah, WA 98029, USA
braincampwa@gmail.com