Privacy Policy
Empire Sports Apps LLC ("we," "us") operates this website (empiresportsapps.com), the free web version of Hardwood Empire at play.empiresportsapps.com, and the Hardwood Empire and Home Run Empire mobile apps. This policy explains what information is involved when you use them and how it is handled. We are deliberately privacy-light: our games run on your own device, and we do not operate a login or account system.
No accounts, no passwords
You do not create an account to play, and there is no username or password. We do not ask for your name, and we do not build a server-side profile of you or your gameplay. Your progress belongs to you and lives on your device.
Where your game data is stored
Hardwood Empire is a local-first game. On the web, your dynasties, saves, and settings are stored in your browser's local storage and IndexedDB — on your device, not on our servers. On mobile, saves are stored locally on your phone or tablet. You can move a save between devices yourself using the built-in Export Save and Import Save tools, which produce and read a file you control. See Saves & Purchases for details.
Cookies and local storage
The web game and this site use browser storage (cookies and/or local storage) for essential functions such as remembering your saves and settings. Where advertising or analytics are enabled, additional cookies or identifiers may be used for those purposes (described below). You can clear this storage at any time through your browser settings; doing so will also remove locally stored game saves.
Third-party services we use
- Cloudflare — hosts and delivers this website and the web version of the game and provides security and anti-abuse protection. To deliver and protect the service, Cloudflare processes standard technical data such as IP address and request metadata. See Cloudflare's privacy policy.
- Stripe — processes payments if you make a purchase in the web version (for example, Remove Ads). Payment and card details are handled by Stripe; we never see or store your full card number. A purchase is associated with the email you provide at Stripe checkout so it can be restored. See Stripe's privacy policy.
- Google AdSense / Google ads — when advertising is enabled on this site or the web game, Google may serve ads and use cookies or identifiers to do so in accordance with Google's policies. Ads are not currently live; this applies once they are enabled, and where required (for example, in the EU/EEA/UK) a consent prompt will be shown before non-essential advertising cookies are used.
- Apple App Store & Google Play — distribute the mobile apps and handle mobile purchases and their own analytics under their respective policies.
- Google / Firebase analytics (mobile) — the mobile apps use aggregate, diagnostic analytics (such as crash reports and feature usage) to help improve the game. This is not tied to a personal account you create with us.
What we do not do
- We do not sell your personal information.
- We do not maintain a password-protected account system.
- We do not upload your game saves to our servers.
Children
Our games are not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information, contact us and we will address it.
Your choices
You can clear your browser or device storage at any time to remove local game data. For purchase questions or any privacy request, email us at empiresportsapps@gmail.com.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as the product evolves (for example, when web advertising is enabled). Material changes will be reflected here with a new "last updated" date.
Contact
Empire Sports Apps LLC, Rhode Island, USA — empiresportsapps@gmail.com.