Mitchell Smith built the Guards of the Castle app as a free, ad-supported game with one optional in-app purchase. This page explains what information the app collects, how it is used and who it is shared with. If you choose to use the app, you agree to the collection and use of information described in this Privacy Policy. The terms used here have the same meanings as in the Guards of the Castle Terms and Conditions unless otherwise defined.
The Short Version
- There are no accounts, and I do not collect, store or sell your personal information.
- Your game progress is saved only on your device.
- Ads come from Google AdMob. Every ad request is marked as child-directed and limited to general-audience (G-rated) ads, so the ads are not personalized and the app does not track you. The app never asks for App Tracking Transparency permission.
- The optional Supporter purchase is handled by Apple. I never see your payment details.
- Game Center is Apple's service and is optional.
Information Collection and Use
I do not run servers for this app and the app does not send any information to me. It has no sign-up, no chat, and no analytics or tracking of my own. The app does not use Unity's analytics or ads services.
Your game progress (coins, Spellbook upgrades, spells and looks, best score, and your sound and music settings) is saved only on your device. Deleting the app deletes it. Your device's own backups, which Apple handles, may include it.
The app does use third party services that may collect information, as described below. Links to the privacy policies of the third party service providers used by the app:
Advertising
Guards of the Castle shows ads supplied by Google AdMob. Because the game is suitable for children, every ad request the app makes is marked for child-directed treatment and limited to a maximum ad content rating of G (general audiences). The app also uses Google's User Messaging Platform and tags users as under the age of consent. As a result, Google serves only ads that are not personalized, does not use remarketing, and handles the requests under its policies for children's content. The app never shows the App Tracking Transparency prompt, so the advertising identifier (IDFA) is not available to the app or to Google.
To deliver and measure ads, Google's Mobile Ads SDK collects the following data, as declared in its privacy manifest:
- Coarse location (an approximate location derived from your IP address)
- Device ID (device identifiers, not the advertising identifier)
- Product interaction (for example, app launches and taps on ads)
- Advertising data (for example, which ads you have seen)
- Performance data and other diagnostic data (for example, load times)
- Crash data
This data is used for advertising, ad measurement, fraud prevention and analytics. Because the requests are child-directed and the advertising identifier is not available, it is not used to track you across other companies' apps or websites. You can read how Google uses it in How Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.
In-App Purchases
The optional Supporter purchase is processed by Apple through the App Store. I never see your payment details or your Apple Account information. The app only records on your device that the purchase was made, so it can turn on the Supporter features, and it asks Apple to confirm the purchase when you use Restore Purchases.
Game Center
Signing in to Game Center is optional. If you are signed in, the app sends your best score to Apple's Game Center leaderboard, which shows your Game Center name and score to other players. Game Center is Apple's service and is governed by Apple's privacy policy. I can see the leaderboard in the same way, but I do not receive your Apple Account details.
Apple's App Store Statistics
If you have chosen to share analytics with app developers in your device's settings, Apple may give me aggregated, anonymous statistics such as download counts and crash reports. These never identify you.
Cookies
The app does not use cookies. Google's ad SDK may store identifiers on your device for the purposes described above.
Security
The app keeps your information on your device, and I do not hold any copy of it. No method of transmission over the internet or of electronic storage is 100% secure, so I cannot guarantee the absolute security of the data third party services handle.
Links to Other Sites
An ad may link to another site or app. Those sites are not operated by me, and I have no control over and assume no responsibility for their content, privacy policies or practices. Please review their privacy policies.
Children's Privacy
Guards of the Castle is suitable for a general audience, including children. That is why every ad request is child-directed and limited to G-rated ads, as described above. I do not knowingly collect personal information from children, or from anyone else, through the app. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided personal information through the app, please contact me at support@mitchsmith.app and I will help.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
I may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. You are advised to review this page periodically for any changes. I will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page.
This policy is effective as of 2026-10-04
Contact Us
If you have any questions or suggestions about my Privacy Policy, do not hesitate to contact me at support@mitchsmith.app.