Introducing the new Google Privacy Policy. It's simplified, but I'm gonna simplifier it more better.
"There are many different ways you can use our services – to search for and share information, to communicate with other people or to create new content."
"There are many different ways you can use our services – to search for and share information, to communicate with other people or to create new content."
Translation: Google rules. But we use your data to advertise to you. So let's explain what data and how you can opt out of some of this mischief.
"We collect information to provide better services to all of our users"
Translation: Our computers look at your data. We use that data to put you into categories with other people who might like to buy the same shit.
"Information you give us."
Translation: Everything you type, upload, click, look at, or hover your mouse over when we are involved -- you are giving it to us. Just operate under that assumption.
Translation: Everything you type, upload, click, look at, or hover your mouse over when we are involved -- you are giving it to us. Just operate under that assumption.
"Information we get from your use of our services."
Translation: If you see a Google ad, we are involved. See above. If you see a Google anything, see above. If you see a company owned by Google, see above.
"Device information"
Translation: We know what gadget you are using. We know your phone number. We know who you are.
"Log information"
Translation: We keep this data.
"- details of how you used our service, such as your search queries."
Translation: Everything you type, upload, click, look at, or hover your mouse over when we are involved.
Translation: Everything you type, upload, click, look at, or hover your mouse over when we are involved.
"- telephony log information like your phone number, calling-party number, forwarding numbers, time and date of calls, duration of calls, SMS routing information and types of calls."
Translation: Everything.
Translation: Everything.
"- Internet protocol address."
Translation: Your computer is broadcasting an IP address. The internet wouldn't work otherwise. They log it.
Translation: Your computer is broadcasting an IP address. The internet wouldn't work otherwise. They log it.
"- device event information such as crashes, system activity, hardware settings, browser type, browser language, the date and time of your request and referral URL."
Translation: We know when your gadget breaks, what it is doing, how you customized it, every web page you went to on it, and how you got there.
"- cookies that may uniquely identify your browser or your Google Account."
Translation: We store stuff on your gadget that we can read back later to figure out who you are.
"Location information"
Translation: We know where you are.
"Unique application numbers"
Translation: We know everything about the type of software you are running.
"Local storage"
Translation: We will store data about you on your own gadget, even when you don't have internet or cell service. This way we can get it later when you are online.
"How we use information we collect"
Translation: We aren't evil. We promise. We want to make our products better so you will keep using them. We want to protect you from mean malware and bad old viruses. Plus, we want Google to be served just the way you like it, year after year... So we can advertise to you (That's how we make money).
"We may use the name you provide for your Google Profile across all of the services we offer that require a Google Account. In addition, we may replace past names associated with your Google Account so that you are represented consistently across all our services. If other users already have your email, or other information that identifies you, we may show them your publicly visible Google Profile information, such as your name and photo."
Translation: Rick Lastnamington
"When you contact Google"
Translation: If you email us, you just gave us your email address. We will keep it. We will use it.
"When showing you tailored ads, we will not associate a cookie or anonymous identifier with sensitive categories, such as those based on race, religion, sexual orientation or health."
Translation: Don't worry your pretty little head about it. Not being dicks is how we run our business. When the government comes to round up all the black lesbian Jews in wheelchairs, they won't get that information from us. Unless maybe you're in China.
"We may combine personal information from one service with information, including personal information, from other Google services – for example to make it easier to share things with people you know. We will not combine DoubleClick cookie information with personally identifiable information unless we have your opt-in consent."
Translation: We have your datas. We use your datas. Can DoubleClick use your datas too? You can say no, we won't be mad.
"Google processes personal information on our servers in many countries around the world."
Translation: Everything about you, everywhere you go.
"Transparency and choice"
Translation: But it's ok! Don't be scared of Google! Look at these great ways you can make a difference in your privacy!
"- Review and control certain types of information tied to your Google Account by using Google Dashboard."
Translation: Check out Google Dashboard! Seriously though. Check it out. https://www.google.com/dashboard/?hl=en
"- View and edit your ads preferences, such as which categories might interest you, using the Ads Preferences Manager. You can also opt out of certain Google advertising services here."
Translation: Is there a certain ad that you hate? Block it!? Holy crap, you can do that? I didn't even know. Cool! Check that out too. https://www.google.com/settings/ads/preferences?hl=en
"- Use our editor to see and adjust how your Google Profile appears to particular individuals.
- Control who you share information with.
- Take information out of many of our services."
Translation: You can turn some of this stuff off! We totally let you. Some of it.Translation: You can block some of this from your end, at which point almost nothing will work for you anymore.
"Information you share"
Translation: If you can see it on the internet, so can everybody else. And everybody else can store it too. And sell it. Also they are probably less cool about it than we are. But you know, don't worry about us wanting you to put your real name out there or anything.
"Accessing and updating your personal information"
Translation: We know who you are. If you try to cover up who you are, we will find out.
"Where we can provide information access and correction, we will do so for free, except where it would require a disproportionate effort."
Translation: Basically, deleting your data is really only deleting data so it won't appear online. There are offline backups of your data, and we keep them.
"Information we share"
Translation: We don't let anybody else have your data unless you tell us we can. Except some people, but they are super cool. They just process it and give it right back. Nothing could bossiply go wrong. Oh also except we'll give it for legal reasons. I guess forget what I said about the government coming for the black lesbian jews in wheelchairs. :( If they pass a law about it, no one is safe. And also, one more thing, sometimes we mix some of your data up with other people's data in a big bag (and take your name and stuff off it) and we sell that to other companies.
"Information security"
Translation: We use science and technology to keep your data safe. Our secretaries can't even read your email!
"Application"
Translation: Not everybody is as nice about this as we are. Our advertisers for example. Another example might be, every other site on the internet. Facebook for example.
"Enforcement"
Translation: We police ourselves here. If you have a complaint, don't go to the police. We are the police.
"Changes"
Translation: Don't worry about any of this changing until you see another bunch of privacy change notices. Then worry about it. Like you are now!
"Specific product practices"
Translation: Got it? Good. Oh, there's 3 more to look at...
Link to this » It's about as done as it's gonna get, due to a certain new job and a certain non-compete agreement that a certain fellow has now that he is a game developer :)
Oh, right, so here's the link: http://planetidiot.com/web-games/aardvark/
Be sure to sign up for a user account! You can submit high scores and make your own levels if you are logged in! You can even rate other user levels! The form is in the upper left corner of the page. Sorry the page is ugly as hell, I haven't had time to make it pretty as I've been working frantically to get the game done. Enjoy!
Read comments » What's this? Aardvark is being developed for the web browser? It isn't done yet but you can check it out as it progresses! Works best in the latest Chrome or Firefox. Maybe Opera or Safari, possibly ie9 but nothing earlier.
As always, the Xbox 360 version is here: http://planetidiot.com/games/xbox-live-arcade/aardvark/
Read comments » Two more great reviews for my new Xbox 360 game, Bumblicity courtesy of Gamergeddon and XBLIG! Get the free demo on the Xbox Live Marketplace.
Link to this » There's a lot of crap on the Indie Game channel of XBLA. Don't get me wrong there's a lot of good stuff too, but it's hard to find any of it because there's so much garbage. Let me state for the record I don't write games for money. I think once you stop doing something because you love it and start doing it for the money you've lost your way, and you are going to sabotage your efforts. I know there's commercial games that are awesome so that sounds incorrect, but I'm speaking of indie developers here. Big companies have entire teams dedicated to every facet of the game to (try to) make it good and to make money. But money is the end goal with them and they'll sacrifice anything and everything for it. But you know that. Indie developers (and specifically garage developers) are in a different situation.
With a one man team, or even a small team, developing games as a hobby doesn't afford you a lot of time. So your options are pour all your effort into something big, or try to put out a larger number of smaller projects. Nothing is wrong with either approach, and I'd argue putting out a few small projects is a great way to refine your code and get to know the publishing system you're dealing with. However just the fact that you can crank out a project quickly doesn't mean you should. At the heart of it is the question: Why are you doing it?
If your answer is that you hope to make a lot of money, please do us all a favor and stop. If you have a passion for creating games that you would play if someone else made them (and the money is a nice bonus) then you're doing this for the right reasons and the games you produce are going to be excellent. As soon as you start creating games based on what you think will sell you've gone over to the dark side. For big soulless corporations it's par for the course, but for a lone human being it's just a sad waste.
Link to this » "The primary mode in Bumblicity is competitive, either against the CPU or a friend, though there is also an endless single-player mode for those of us that like to feed our word addiction alone. I can highly recommend Bumblicity, as it's like Scrabble and Tetris rolled into one fabulous game."
Read the full review here!
Link to this » My newest Xbox Live game, Bumblicity, is finally available! Check it out!
Link to this »
Sony has released the update for PS3s to start doing 3D for games, and the first Sony 3DTVs are available for pre-sale. The price for a 60" with built-in 3D? $5,000. That's right, five thousand fucking dollars.
I understand there's a premium for new tech but what the living shit. A non-3D 60" Sony set can be bought for under two grand. What is the $3,000 difference for? A higher refresh rate and an IR sync thingy? A couple pairs of glasses? I don't think so.
Oh, it must be the "because we think we can" fee. See you can get a transmitter for $50, and 2 pairs of glasses for $300(!!!) and pre-order a slightly smaller 55" set for $3,400, totaling $3,700 before tax. The difference is 5 inches and $1,300.
Even so that's about four grand. And I don't even want to think about the inevitable day someone sits on a $150 pair of 3D glasses that got left on the chair. As excited as I am about 3DTV, I'm going to have to wait until prices come down. I can only imagine most people will be waiting even longer.
Link to this »
Link to this » I'm pretty sure the game is finished. I will put it in peer review this weekend!
Link to this »
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