The short version: Fractured Grid collects only what it needs to run the game — your chosen handle, faction, and game stats. We do not sell your data. We do not require a real name or email address. Location data is used only in real time on your device and is never stored on our servers. Please read the Safety Guidelines below before playing.
Safety Guidelines for Players
Fractured Grid is a real-world GPS game that encourages physical movement through your environment. Your safety is your responsibility. Please read and follow these guidelines before playing.
General awareness:
- Always be aware of your physical surroundings. Do not look at your phone while walking across roads, intersections, or in any area where reduced attention could cause harm.
- Do not trespass on private property, restricted areas, construction sites, or any location where entry is prohibited in order to capture a zone or collect loot.
- Do not play while operating a vehicle of any kind, including cars, bicycles, scooters, or other transport.
- If a zone or loot node appears to be located in an unsafe or inaccessible area, do not attempt to reach it. Zones and loot nodes generate algorithmically and are not manually placed — no game objective is worth your safety.
Environmental and weather conditions:
- Be mindful of weather, terrain, and lighting conditions. Do not play in areas with poor visibility at night without adequate lighting.
- Stay hydrated and dress appropriately for outdoor play in warm or cold conditions.
- Be aware of local wildlife or environmental hazards relevant to your area.
Personal safety:
- Tell someone where you are going if you plan to play in unfamiliar areas.
- Play with a friend when possible, especially at night or in isolated locations.
- Trust your instincts. If a situation or location feels unsafe, leave immediately.
- Keep your phone charged and ensure you can contact emergency services if needed.
- Be aware of local laws and regulations regarding public space access in your area.
Community conduct:
- Be respectful of other people and communities in the areas where you play.
- Do not use the game as a reason to loiter, gather in groups in ways that may cause concern to others, or behave in a manner that disturbs the peace.
- If law enforcement or security personnel ask you to leave an area, comply immediately and respectfully.
Health:
- Take regular breaks during extended play sessions. The game is designed to encourage walking — listen to your body and rest when needed.
- Players with medical conditions that may be affected by physical activity or prolonged outdoor exposure should consult their doctor before playing.
- If you experience dizziness, disorientation, or physical distress while playing, stop immediately and seek assistance.
Important: Fractured Grid and its creator accept no liability for injuries, accidents, trespassing violations, property damage, or any other harm arising from gameplay in the physical world. By playing Fractured Grid, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own safety and the safety of those around you at all times.
1. Who We Are
Fractured Grid is an independent real-world GPS faction game and book series created by Anthony Barraza, operating at fracturedgrids.com. References to "we," "us," or "our" refer to Fractured Grid and its creator. For privacy questions, contact us at corvus.lykos@gmail.com.
2. Information We Collect
Information you provide:
- Game handle — a username you choose when starting the game. It does not need to be your real name.
- Faction choice — the faction you select during the quiz.
- Game progress — XP, rank, zone captures, loot, missions, and inventory. Stored to allow progress to persist across sessions and devices.
Information collected automatically:
- Location data (GPS) — used in real time on your device to display your position on the map and calculate zone proximity. Precise coordinates are not transmitted to or stored on our servers.
- Device camera — used only within the AR scanner feature when you explicitly activate it. Camera data is never recorded, stored, or transmitted.
- Device compass and orientation — used within the AR scanner for directional overlays only. Not stored or transmitted.
- Standard web logs — your IP address, browser type, and page visit times may be recorded by our hosting provider for security purposes. These logs are not linked to your game identity.
3. How We Use Your Information
- To run the game — map display, zone capture eligibility, and saving progress.
- To operate the live leaderboard — showing your handle, faction, and XP rank.
- To improve the game — understanding aggregate usage to fix bugs and build features.
- To respond to you — only if you contact us directly by email.
We do not use your information for advertising, behavioral profiling, or any automated decision-making that produces legal or significant effects on you.
4. Data Storage and Third Parties
Game data is stored in two places:
- Your device — via browser localStorage for fast local access and offline support.
- Supabase — a third-party database used to sync game state across devices and power the live leaderboard. Supabase stores only your handle, faction, XP, and game stats. No real name, email, or personal identifying information is required or stored. See supabase.com/privacy.
The site is hosted on Netlify, which may collect standard server access logs. See netlify.com/privacy.
We do not sell, rent, or share your data with advertisers, data brokers, or any third parties for commercial purposes.
5. Location Data
Fractured Grid is a GPS-based game. To function, the game requests access to your device's location. This access is:
- Optional at the system level — you may deny location access in your device settings, though core GPS gameplay will not function without it.
- Used in real time only — coordinates are processed on your device to calculate zone proximity. Precise GPS coordinates are not transmitted to or logged on our servers.
- Never sold or shared — location data is never shared with third parties for any purpose.
6. Camera and Device Sensors
The in-game AR Scanner optionally uses your camera and compass. These are activated only when you explicitly tap the AR View button. Camera access:
- Is never active in the background.
- Does not record, capture, or transmit any video or images.
- Renders a live viewfinder only — no data leaves your device.
- Can be revoked at any time in your device Settings.
7. Children's Privacy
Fractured Grid is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has submitted data to us, contact corvus.lykos@gmail.com and we will delete it promptly. Players aged 13–17 should have parental or guardian consent before playing, particularly given the GPS and camera features.
8. Your Rights and Choices
You may have the following rights regarding your data:
- Access — request a copy of the data we hold for your game handle.
- Deletion — use the in-game Reset Progress button on the ID tab to clear local data at any time. To request deletion from our database, email us with your game handle and we will remove it within 30 days.
- Correction — request correction of inaccurate data.
- Portability — request your game data in a readable format.
- Opt out — you may stop using the game at any time and clear all local data via your browser settings.
California residents have additional rights under the CCPA. EU and UK residents have additional rights under the GDPR. We honor these rights regardless of location. Contact us at corvus.lykos@gmail.com to exercise any right.
9. Cookies and Local Storage
Fractured Grid uses browser localStorage — not advertising cookies — to save your game progress on your device. This data never leaves your device except as described in Section 4. It can be cleared at any time via your browser settings or the in-game Reset Progress button. We do not use advertising cookies, tracking pixels, or third-party analytics.
10. Security
We use HTTPS encryption on all connections, and Supabase Row Level Security policies that prevent any player from accessing or modifying another player's data. However, no internet service can guarantee absolute security. Do not use sensitive personal information as your game handle.
11. Patreon
Our Patreon page is operated by Patreon, Inc. under their own privacy policy. When you subscribe, your payment and personal information is handled by Patreon — not by us. We receive only your Patreon username and tier level.
12. Amazon Kindle Books
Purchases of Fractured Grid novels through Amazon are governed by Amazon's privacy policy. We receive only aggregate sales data from Amazon KDP — no individual purchaser information.
13. Intellectual Property
All Fractured Grid game content, fiction, lore, faction names, character names, world-building, and associated artwork are the intellectual property of Anthony Barraza. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of any Fractured Grid content is prohibited. The game is free to play for personal, non-commercial use only.
14. Disclaimer of Warranties
Fractured Grid is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind. We make no guarantees regarding uptime, data preservation, or fitness for any particular purpose. Game data may be lost in the event of a database reset, service outage, or discontinuation of the service.
15. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy as the game evolves. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date above. Continued use of the game after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
16. Contact
For any privacy questions, data requests, or concerns:
We are an independent creator operation and will respond to all privacy inquiries personally within 30 days.