Privacy Policy: How We Protect Your Data at Fatal Dimensions
As a UK-focused blog dedicated to MUD games, text-based RPGs and retro online gaming, we take your privacy as seriously as we take our dungeon crawls. This policy explains what information we collect, why we collect it, and how you can stay in control. We have written it in plain English because we believe transparency matters just as much as a well-rolled character.
What Data We Collect and Why
We collect only the essentials needed to run a friendly community site for interactive fiction fans. That means your email address if you subscribe to our newsletter, the comments you leave on our articles, and a small amount of technical data that keeps the servers ticking over. We never sell your data to third parties, and we never will.
Information You Give Us Voluntarily
When you sign up for our newsletter about MUD games and retro online games, we ask for your email address. When you comment on an article about text-based RPGs, we store the name and message you provide. You choose what to share, and you can ask us to remove it at any time.
Automatically Collected Technical Data
Like most websites, we log basic technical details such as your IP address, browser type and the pages you visit. This helps us spot broken links, block spam and keep the site secure for every UK player dropping in for a dose of Telnet gaming nostalgia.
How We Use Your Data for Site Improvement
We use the information we gather to improve our coverage, fix technical issues and understand which topics our readers enjoy most. We do not use it for advertising profiles, and we do not share it with data brokers.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Cookies are small files that help our site remember who you are and how you like things set up. We use them to store preferences such as dark mode for late-night Telnet gaming sessions, and to measure traffic through Google Analytics 4. You can disable cookies in your browser at any time, though some features of our retro online games coverage may not work as intended.
Essential Cookies for Site Functionality
These cookies keep the site running smoothly. They remember your login state, your comment preferences and your display settings. Without them, basic features like submitting a comment or saving a theme would not function.
Performance Cookies from Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how visitors move through the site. These cookies collect anonymised data about page views, session length and approximate location. They help us see which articles about interactive fiction are hitting the mark.
Managing Your Cookie Preferences
You can accept, reject or delete cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers also offer a private browsing mode that clears cookies when you close the window. If you need help adjusting your settings, our team is happy to point you in the right direction.
Analytics and How We Measure Engagement
Our team uses Google Analytics 4 to understand which articles about MUD games and interactive fiction resonate with UK players. This data is anonymised and aggregated, and we never track individual users across other websites. Think of it as a scoreboard, not a surveillance camera.
Google Analytics 4 Setup and Data Anonymisation
We have configured Google Analytics 4 with IP anonymisation enabled, so the data we see cannot be traced back to a single person. Reports are aggregated, meaning we look at trends rather than individuals.
What We Learn from Analytics
Analytics tell us which guides are most popular, how long readers stay on a page, and which countries our visitors come from. This helps us plan future content about text-based RPGs and retro online games that actually interests our audience.
Opting Out of Analytics Tracking
If you would prefer not to be counted, you can install the official Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on or block analytics scripts through your browser. Our site will continue to work normally without them.
Third-Party Services We Rely On
We embed YouTube videos about classic text adventures and use Mailchimp to send our newsletter. These third parties have their own privacy policies, and we encourage you to review them, especially if you are based in the United Kingdom and covered by UK GDPR.
YouTube and Embedded Media
When you play an embedded YouTube video, YouTube may set its own cookies and collect viewing data. We do not control this, so please check Google’s privacy policy if you want to know more about how that information is handled.
Mailchimp for Email Newsletters
Mailchimp stores your email address and manages our subscriber list. It processes this data on our behalf under a data processing agreement, and it does not use your details for its own marketing purposes.
Links to External Retro Gaming Resources
Our articles sometimes link to other sites covering MUD games and interactive fiction. Once you leave Fatal Dimensions, the privacy practices of those sites apply. We recommend reading their policies before sharing any personal information.
Your Rights Under UK GDPR
As a UK resident, you have clear rights over your personal data. You can ask to access it, correct it, delete it, or object to how we process it. You can also lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). We respond to all requests within 30 days.
Right to Access and Portability
You can request a copy of the personal data we hold about you, and ask us to transfer it to another service where technically feasible. Just email us and we will sort it out.
Right to Erasure and Rectification
If something is inaccurate, you can ask us to correct it. If you want your data removed entirely, we will delete it unless we are legally required to keep it.
How to Contact the ICO
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your data, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office directly. We would always prefer the chance to put things right first, so please get in touch with us before escalating.
Data Retention: How Long We Keep Your Information
We keep newsletter subscriber data until you unsubscribe, and comment data for as long as the article remains published. Analytics data is retained for a 26-month period in line with Google’s default settings. After that, it is deleted or anonymised.
Retention Periods for Different Data Types
Newsletter data stays with us until you opt out. Comments remain visible while the article is live. Analytics records are kept for 26 months and then removed from our reporting tools.
What Happens When You Unsubscribe
When you unsubscribe from our newsletter, Mailchimp removes you from the active list and your email address is deleted from our records within a reasonable period.
Secure Deletion Practices
When data reaches the end of its retention period, we delete it securely or anonymise it so it can no longer be linked to you. We review our retention practices regularly to stay compliant with UK GDPR.
Contact Us About Privacy
If you have questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your data, email our data protection lead at [email protected]. We aim to reply within five working days, and we are always happy to discuss any concerns about our MUD games coverage.
Email for Privacy Enquiries
The quickest way to reach us is by email at [email protected]. Please include enough detail so we can identify your request and respond accurately.
Postal Address for Formal Requests
If you prefer to write to us formally, please email first and we will provide the appropriate postal address for your request. This helps us route your enquiry correctly and respond promptly.
Updates to This Privacy Policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in the law or in our services. When we do, we will revise the date at the top of the page and, where appropriate, notify newsletter subscribers.
We are fellow UK retro gaming enthusiasts who value transparency above all else. If anything in this policy is unclear, or if you simply want to chat about privacy or classic text adventures, please reach out. Your trust matters to us as much as a well-earned level-up.