Privacy

Last updated 28 September 2026

This site is run by Mindwidgets, Aaron Silinskas’ studio, which is building Aura. We collect as little as we can. This page explains what we do collect, why, and how to change your mind.

If you just visit

No cookies. This site doesn’t set any cookies. The only thing it ever stores in your browser is the one setting described under How we count visits, and only if you ask it to.
Counted visits. We count visits to see how the site is doing, without cookies and without a record of you. How we count visits explains it.
Nothing loads from third parties. Our fonts, images, and code all come from mindwidgets.com. The only thing sent elsewhere while you read is page-view counts, to Pirsch. Nothing loads from Google, social networks, or advertisers.
Server logs. Like every website, our web host (HostGator) keeps standard logs of requests to the site: your IP address, the page you asked for, your browser type, and the time. These are used for security and troubleshooting, and we don’t use them to track anyone.

Links to GitHub, LinkedIn, and other sites take you to those sites, and their own privacy policies apply there.

How we count visits

We count visits with Pirsch Analytics to see which pages people read, where visitors come from, and how many sign up. We use this to improve the site.

How it works. Pirsch uses no cookies. Each time you view a page, your browser sends Pirsch the page address and title, the site that linked you here, your IP address, and browser details such as its name and screen size. Pirsch turns these into an anonymous code that changes every day and never stores them. Only totals are kept, such as how many people read a page, never a record of any one visitor.
Who handles it. Pirsch is run by Emvi Software GmbH in Germany, which processes this for us under a data processing agreement, on servers in the EU.
Your email address stays out of it. After you sign up, you land on our thanks page with your email address in the page address. We strip it from the address before anything is counted.
Opting out. Press the button below and we’ll stop counting your visits in this browser. It stores one small setting in your browser to remember your choice. If your browser sends Global Privacy Control, we honor it automatically and don’t count your visits.

With JavaScript turned off, your visits aren't counted.

The signup form asks for your email address, plus which interests you’d like to hear about, if you choose to tick any (playing, making, partnering, following the build).

What it’s for. We use your email only to send you news about Aura: playtests, alpha maker builds, and when there’s something to play. We expect to write about once a month. We never sell or share your email, and we never use it for advertising.
Who handles it. Our mailing list runs on Buttondown, a newsletter service based in the United States, so your details are stored there. When you sign up, Buttondown also records the technical details it needs to prevent spam and prove you agreed: your IP address, when you signed up and confirmed, and which site you signed up from. Buttondown may show you a CAPTCHA check if a signup looks automated. See Buttondown’s privacy policy.
No email tracking. We don’t track whether you open our emails or click their links.
You confirm first. After you sign up, Buttondown emails you a link. You’re only added to the list once you click it.
Our own copy. We keep a private backup copy of the list, so we don’t lose it or get locked in to one service. It is never published or shared.
Age. The updates are written for grown-ups and teens 13 and up. If you’re under 13, please ask a parent or guardian to sign up instead. If you think a child under 13 has signed up, email us and we’ll delete their address.

Unsubscribing and deleting your data

Every email has an unsubscribe link at the bottom, and one click takes you off the list. To have your details deleted completely, or to ask what we hold about you, email aura@mindwidgets.com and we’ll take care of it, including in our backup copy.

Changes

If this page changes, the date at the top changes with it. If we ever want to use your email for something new, we’ll ask you first.

Questions