Privacy Policy

Use of the Massively Overpowered website and its affiliated social media services implies understanding acceptance of the terms of the following privacy policy.

Website visitors: Like most website operators, Massively Overpowered collects non-personally identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. Our purpose in collecting non-personally identifying information is to better understand how our visitors use our website. From time to time, we may release non-personally identifying information in the aggregate — e.g., by publishing a report on trends in the usage of the website. Massively Overpowered also collects potentially personally identifying information like internet protocol (IP) addresses for logged-in users and for users leaving comments on the blog. We disclose logged-in user and commenter IP addresses only under the same circumstances that we use and disclose personally identifying information as described below, except that blog commenter IP addresses and email addresses are visible and disclosed to the administrators.

Gathering of personally identifying information: Certain visitors to Massively Overpowered choose to interact with our website in ways that require us or services we use to gather personally identifying information. The amount and type of information that we gather depends on the nature of the interaction. For example, visitors who sign up to post comments on our blog provide a username and email address to both us and to either Google, Twitter, Facebook, Steam, or Reddit (collectively, “social media services”), the third-party services through which commenting accounts are authorized. Those who engage in transactions with Massively Overpowered (by donating through a third-party service like Kickstarter or Patreon, for example) are asked to provide additional information, including as necessary the personal and financial information required to process those transactions. We may also conduct contests and giveaways in which we will ask users to transmit personal information in order to receive a prize. In each case, Massively Overpowered collects such information only insofar as is necessary or appropriate to fulfill the purpose of the visitor’s interaction with Massively Overpowered. Massively Overpowered does not disclose personally identifying information other than as described below. Visitors can always refuse to supply personally identifying information, with the caveat that it may prevent them from engaging in certain website-related activities.

Protection of certain personally identifying information: Massively Overpowered discloses potentially personally identifying and personally identifying information only to those of its employees, contractors, and affiliated organizations that (i) need to know that information in order to process it on our behalf or to provide services available at our website, and (ii) that have agreed not to disclose it to others. Some of those employees, contractors, and affiliated organizations may be located outside of your home country; by using Massively Overpowered, you consent to the transfer of such information to them. We will not rent or sell potentially personally identifying and personally identifying information to anyone. Other than to our employees, contractors, and affiliated organizations as described above, we disclose potentially personally identifying and personally identifying information only in response to a subpoena, court order, or other governmental request, or when Massively Overpowered believes in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect the property or rights of our company, website, third parties, or the public at large. If you send us a request (for example via a support email or via one of our feedback mechanisms), we reserve the right to publish it in order to help us clarify or respond to your request or to help us support other users. Massively Overpowered takes all measures reasonably necessary to protect against the unauthorized access, use, alteration, or destruction of potentially personally identifying and personally identifying information.

How to request deletion of personal information: Three types of personal information are stored in our user database: comments, profile information, and the user account itself. If a visitor wishes to delete comments stored on our system,  this can be accomplished through the User Settings button. Any user who is logged in will see this button at the top left of the comment entry box in any post that has comments enabled. Pressing the button will open a window that will allow the user to delete individual comments or request “Bulk management via email.” The bulk management email allows the user to delete all comments and subscriptions. Profile information can be added or deleted through the “Edit Profile” button just above the comment entry box. If you wish to permanently delete your account and all associated data, please submit a request through our contact form, making sure to include your account display name, email, or user name. After verifying the request through the associated account’s email, we will delete the user and all associated information from our database.

Cookies: A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor’s computer, and that the visitor’s browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. Massively Overpowered uses cookies to help us identify and track visitors, their usage of our website, and their website access preferences. Massively Overpowered visitors who do not wish to have cookies placed on their computers should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using this website, knowing that certain website features may not function properly without the aid of cookies.

Business transfers: If Massively Overpowered were to be acquired or enter bankruptcy, user information would be one of the assets that would likely be transferred or acquired by a third party. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur and that any acquirer of Massively Overpowered may continue to use your personal information as set forth in this policy.

Ads and social media: When you use our website, we share information that we collect from you, including IP address, information about your browser or operating system, or your email (in hashed form), with our identity partners/service providers, including CPMStar, LiveRamp Inc and Pubmatic, Inc. These companies return an online identification code that we may store in our first-party cookie for our use in online, in-app, and cross-channel advertising and it may be shared with advertising companies to enable interest-based and targeted advertising.

To opt out of this use, please visit:

Alterations to this policy: Massively Overpowered may change this privacy policy from time to time and at Massively Overpowered’s sole discretion. We encourage visitors to frequently check this page as well as the privacy policies of any affiliated services for changes. Your continued use of this site after any change in this privacy policy will constitute your acceptance of such change.

This privacy policy legalese was adapted from the Automattic privacy policy under its creative commons sharealike license. Automattic is the company that makes the WordPress blogging platform possible. Thank you!
Updated February 3rd, 2017, to reflect discontinuation of Livefyre and implementation of social media account authorization for commenting. Updated November 4, 2019, to add opt-out links for tracking cookies. Updated July 9, 2021, to update opt-out links and add specific information about ad services and first-party cookies.