Advertising Disclosure
Last updated: October 25, 2025
Our Commitment to Transparency
At Joystick Studios, we believe in complete transparency regarding our advertising practices and financial relationships. This disclosure explains how we may earn income through various advertising channels and affiliate relationships while maintaining our commitment to providing honest, valuable information.
We comply with Federal Trade Commission guidelines and applicable advertising regulations. This page outlines our advertising relationships and how they may influence the content you see on our website.
Affiliate Relationships
Affiliate Program Participation
Joystick Studios participates in various affiliate marketing programs. This means we may earn commissions when you click on certain links on our website and make purchases. These affiliate programs include:
- Software development tools and platforms
- Game development resources and assets
- Technology products and services relevant to game development
- Educational courses and training materials
- Professional services related to the gaming industry
When you purchase through these affiliate links, we receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support our operations and allows us to continue providing valuable content and services.
Commission-Based Link Explanations
Our affiliate links work in the following way:
- Affiliate links may be marked with specific tags or indicators where required
- Clicking an affiliate link does not obligate you to make a purchase
- Commission rates vary by program and product category
- We receive compensation only when a completed purchase occurs
- Your purchase price remains the same whether you use our link or not
Product Recommendation Policies
We maintain strict standards for product and service recommendations. Our recommendations are based on genuine evaluation of quality, relevance, and value to our audience. While we may earn commissions, this does not influence our honest assessment of products or services. We only recommend solutions we believe will be genuinely beneficial to game developers and studios.
Financial Relationship Transparency
We disclose all material financial relationships that could reasonably be expected to influence our content or recommendations. If we have a significant business relationship with a company, receive substantial compensation, or have other material connections, we will clearly indicate this in relevant content. Our goal is to ensure you can make informed decisions with full knowledge of any potential conflicts of interest.
Sponsored Content
Identification of Paid Content
From time to time, we may publish sponsored content on our website. Sponsored content refers to material that has been paid for by an advertiser or brand partner. We clearly identify sponsored content in the following ways:
- Clear labeling with terms like "Sponsored," "Paid Partnership," or "Advertisement"
- Visual indicators distinguishing sponsored content from editorial content
- Disclosure statements at the beginning of sponsored articles or posts
- Separate categorization or tagging of sponsored material
Sponsored Post Labeling Policies
All sponsored posts comply with FTC guidelines and industry best practices. We ensure that disclosures are prominent, unambiguous, and placed where consumers can easily see them before engaging with the content. We do not attempt to hide or minimize sponsorship disclosures, and we maintain editorial standards even for paid content.
Brand Partnership Disclosures
We may enter into partnerships with game development companies, software providers, or other industry brands. These partnerships may involve various forms of compensation, including monetary payment, free products or services, or other considerations. We disclose these relationships when discussing or recommending partner products or services.
Content Authenticity Guarantees
Even when content is sponsored, we maintain editorial control and ensure that all information is accurate, honest, and valuable to our audience. Sponsors do not dictate our opinions or conclusions. We reserve the right to decline sponsorship opportunities that do not align with our values or serve our audience's interests.
Third-Party Advertising
Display Advertising Networks Used
We work with third-party advertising networks to display advertisements on our website. These networks may include:
- Google AdSense and Google Display Network
- Industry-specific advertising platforms
- Retargeting and remarketing services
- Native advertising networks
Behavioral Targeting Disclosure
Third-party advertising networks may use cookies and similar technologies to collect information about your browsing behavior across multiple websites. This allows them to show you targeted advertisements based on your interests. You can learn more about behavioral advertising and opt-out options by visiting industry self-regulatory websites such as the Digital Advertising Alliance or Network Advertising Initiative.
Cookie Usage for Advertising
Advertising partners use cookies to track ad impressions, measure campaign effectiveness, and deliver relevant advertisements. These cookies may store information about your visits to our website and other sites. For detailed information about our cookie practices, please refer to our Cookie Policy.
Ad Personalization Practices
We and our advertising partners may personalize advertisements based on your interests, demographics, and online behavior. This personalization helps ensure you see advertisements that are more relevant to you. You can control ad personalization through browser settings, advertising preference tools, or by adjusting your cookie preferences on our website.
User Rights and Controls
Ad Preference Management Options
You have several options for managing how advertisements are displayed to you:
- Adjust your cookie preferences through our website settings
- Use browser-based ad blockers or privacy extensions
- Configure advertising preferences with individual ad networks
- Modify privacy settings on your device or browser
Opt-Out Procedures
To opt out of personalized advertising, you can visit advertising industry opt-out pages such as the Digital Advertising Alliance's consumer choice page or the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page. Additionally, you can adjust settings with individual advertising providers like Google Ads Settings. Note that opting out does not mean you will stop seeing advertisements, but they may be less relevant to your interests.
Data Collection for Advertising Purposes
When you visit our website, we and our advertising partners may collect various types of data for advertising purposes, including your IP address, device identifiers, browsing history, and interaction with advertisements. This data helps deliver relevant ads and measure campaign effectiveness. For more information about data collection practices, please see our Privacy Policy.
Rights Under Privacy Regulations
Depending on your location, you may have specific rights regarding advertising data under privacy regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, or other applicable laws. These rights may include the ability to access, delete, or restrict processing of your data used for advertising purposes. To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided on our contact page.
FTC Compliance Statement
Joystick Studios complies with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. We make every effort to clearly and conspicuously disclose material connections between our website and advertisers, sponsors, or affiliate partners.
Our opinions and recommendations are based on genuine experience and research. While we may receive compensation for certain recommendations, this does not influence our honest assessment. We only endorse products, services, or brands that we believe offer genuine value to our audience.
If you have questions or concerns about our advertising practices or specific disclosures, please contact us through our contact page. We take transparency seriously and are committed to maintaining trust with our audience.