Thank You

All of us from VirtuBots thank you for taking interest in our website. In order for us to keep this site in running condition, we need to let you be aware of some of our policies that we enforce.

We have created this Document in order to demonstrate our firm commitment to helping our visitors understand what we expect from our visitors, list information we collect from them, and also tell what may happen to the information. We have divided this document up into three sections, which includes the Terms (Terms and Conditions), the Privacy Policy (Privacy Statement), and the Rules & Regulations section.

All of the information in this Document will cover over our website, VirtuBots, at the http://www.virtubots.com/ URL Web Address.

By using our website, VirtuBots, you are expected to read through this Document, agree, and follow what is listed on it. If you do not agree to the Information on this Document, then please leave our website.

All across VirtuBots, we may use 'We', 'Us', 'Our', 'I', and other names to describe ourselves. This is mainly directed to the VirtuBots Website and its' Staff Members.

Terms and Conditions

To help keep our website alive, we kindly ask that you follow our Terms and Conditions. You don't necessarily have to follow everything that we request, but please be supportive :

• To try to refer at least one person to our website.
• By Donating a spare dollar or two to help us with VirtuBots's monthly costs; or by writing us a Postcard / eMail saying 'Thanks'.
• By eMailing us any suggestions, comments, or any bug reports affiliated with our website.

Privacy Policy

All of the Staff Members at VirtuBots are seriously concerned about your privacy. In this section you can read and learn about the Privacy Policy of our website.

Information Collection

The VirtuBots website collects and logs certain information about you and your computer in many different places. We use this information for several different purposes.

Only High-Level Administrators of VirtuBots will be able to view your personal information (such as your eMail Address, your IP Address, your Host Name, your computer information, etc). Your information is highly secured by our servers and will not be rented, sold, or traded to any and all Third Party Groups, which would include Advertisers. We are just like you - we do not want our eMail addresses/other information sold to any Third Party Groups, so we will not do it to you.

Information Collected & How We Use It

eMail Addresses

To get support from VirtuBots affiliated with questions and comments, we require a valid eMail Address from you. We will not send out Mass Mail to anyone on our website. ('Mass Mail' is simply many eMails sent to your account in a very short amount of time). The only eMail that would be sent to your eMail Account would be :

• If you are registered with our website.
• When you eMail us, we may reply to it.

IP Addresses & Host Names & Proxy Servers

IP Addresses (Internet Protocol Addresses), Host Names (your hosting provider name), and Proxy Servers are logged and used on the VirtuBots website in several locations for security purposes.

Computer Information

We log each visitors' type of Internet Browser, screen resolution, connection type, how many times that they visit pages on the VirtuBots website, and Operating Systems (OS) versions.

Other

Frames

The VirtuBots website does not use frames (two or more seperated windows on your screen showing two or more different webpages). However, we automatically break out of frames when the page loads instead of creating them.

Links

VirtuBots actually does link to other websites on the 'net, but when those websites' links were added to our website, they did not contain any harmful content. Please take note that we are solemnly not responsible for anything that happens to your computer when visiting these sites. They are not our creations and not everything on the 'net is safe. If there is a bad link on our website that is malicious in material or does any damage to you or your computer equipment, please Contact Us, providing the link to the website, where you found the link on our website, and we will follow through by perminately removing it.

Bookmarks & Favorites & HomePage Options

On VirtuBots, there is a series of links on the site footer for you to Bookmark Us (add to your Favorites list) and to make our website your Default HomePage when you start your Internet Browser up. We do not automatically add our site to your Bookmark list or make our website your Default HomePage. The only reason why they would appear like that is when a user clicks on the link(s).

Print Page Option

On VirtuBots, there is a shortcut link on the footer of the website that allows you to print the current VirtuBots to your default printer. This is not malicious in any form because it is the same as heading to the File menu in your Browser's menu bar, and selecting Print.

Dynamic Content

In order to play VirtuBots to its advantage, you will need a free plug-in called Flash, made by Adobe (formerly Macromedia), in order to get the full dynamic content of animations in all of the maps to navigate the website with. Without this plugin, you will not be able to play VirtuBots to its fullest. Please take note that due to some settings on some computers, these animations will not be able to link to other webpages if they are not clicked on once. VirtuBots uses some JavaScript coding to make the website act differently in order to help aid members' viewing experiences. If JavaScript is disabled in some browsers, these features are not going to be available.

'Pop-Ups'

We do not send out any kind of 'pop-ups' (a new Internet Browser window automatically opening to an advertisement or any other type of page) on the VirtuBots website. 'Pop-ups' that are used on the VirtuBots website are ones that can be clicked by the user. A few examples can be some links, buttons, or images. We highly recommend pop-up blockers for those who haven't tried one yet.

Hacking

The VirtuBots Staff is very, very strict on members who hack the site. ('Hacking' is entering closed computer or telecommunications systems without permission; invasion of privacy; and trying to destroy data, computer hardware, computer software, or altering database records without correct use). The Staff of VirtuBots will IP-Ban/Host Name Ban those who attempt to hack and/or do hack our website.

Computer Viruses

Our website does not send out Computer Viruses ('Computer Viruses' is a type of program/script code designed/created to infect a computer, erase data, scramble/delete/alter other installed programs, or fill up so much memory/RAM that the system is harmed, causing the computer to miscalculate or crash/hang) of any kind. In return, we hope that you do not send us any computer viruses through eMail attachments. Please keep in mind that each VirtuBots Staff Member has virus/spyware scanners/removers, including ones on the webserver for eMail purposes. All eMails sent to us include special 'header information' which include data on where the eMail originated, that will most likely trace you down. Proper authorities will be notified if needed.

Cookies & Sessions

On our website, we do use Cookies, but we do not use Sessions. A 'Cookie' is a small textfile set into your computer to store important information for any means. A 'Session' is a one-hour timer set into your computer that stores important information for any means.

Policies Changes

The VirtuBots website can change the Polices and other site content as it may wish to without notice. We recommend that visitors to re-review this information every 30 days. However, when members are logged into an account that they created here on the VirtuBots website, they will be notified stating that the Policies have been changed. That notice will not go away until they click onto the Policies page to read what has been updated.

Child Privacy & Protection

We are seriously concerned about the privacy and protection of young children who visit this website. This website has been intended for the younger audience (yet members from other age groups are able to visit as well), which can pose a threat to the children of this site if necessary precautions are not taken seriously. The Staff Members and Administrators of the VirtuBots website have carefully devised of several different approaches to help keep the children of this online web game safe. They are highlighted and explained below.

Swear Word Filter

We have developed a highly sophisticated Swear Word Filter that is very unlike other filters that are on similar web-based games. We check each message, topic, or reply (whichever form it may be in) sent through each of our Communication methods BEFORE it is submitted to our database to see if it is worthy of being saved to the database or not to be saved at all. If a message has been blocked for some reason, the member posting the message will receive an error message saying that it had contained a swear word in it. The member will have to go back and correct their message before it can be submitted. Our Swear Word Filter is sophisticated enough to see the word around some special characters, making them invisible before being checked. This ensures that it is very thorough scan to see if there is a Swear Word in the message, and not being disregarded by other special characters around it. We have a lengthy list of inappropriate words that have been blocked (also with alternate spellings and variations) that gets checked through each and every submittion. However, this poses as a problem because some members are aggrivated by the filter when they are falsely accused of swearing when they really haven't. They can call this as Censorship, but for the reason of protecting the children of this website is a much bigger detail to be considered. Members who are falsely accused of swearing are able to go back and modify their post, rewording their message so that they are able to submit it. Each and every time that our filter catches something, the message is recorded into a database for later analysis. Our Administrators will review these entires occasionally to find 'good words' and 'good phrases' that should be added to our 'White List', so that they won't be blocked again. The purpose for us to have a Swear Word Filter on the VirtuBots website is because this website is primarily a web-based game, and no material such like those Swear Words should be discussed or even mentioned of. Other websites (similar to our's) have a weaker Swear Word Filter where the Swear Words are blocked after being submitted and recorded into the database, which gives the children the wrong idea about language, where stars (*) are supposed to signify the Swear Words that have been caught. Our solution to that was to prevent the Swear Words from entering our website by checking them before they are recorded into the database, instead of afterwards.

Internet Predators

More recently in the news, Internet Predators is becoming a big concern. Common 'hang-outs', such as Internet chatrooms, are most common for where Internet Predators can solicit younger children into an escalading chain of events. Most commonly, according to the news, is soliciting younger children for sex. Since there are several big methods of communication on the VirtuBots website, it is a point where Internet Predators can try to lurk and solicit younger members of our website. However, on the contrary, these predators more than likely will not succeed with their 'stalking' or 'preying' because of such messages can be filtered out from our system, through our highly sophisticated Swear Word Filter, as explained in the section above. It will be very difficult for Internet Predators to ask our younger audeience into sex or who knows what. To learn more about Internet Predators, a good source to turn to would be the 'To Catch A Predator' website, a segment that airs on Dateline NBC occasionally. To the fellow members of our website, if there is anyone on the website that is trying to solicit you into something of the sort, please Contact Us and let us know what is going on. We will look into the issue right away.

Coming Soon

More to this section is coming soon.

Rules & Regulations

The VirtuBots Staff have set up some general rules and regulations that should be followed all throughout our website. We've separated them into two different categories, the first section being with the website in general, and the second section which is dedicated towards additional rules that should be followed when using any of our methods of Communication.

General Website Rules & Guidelines

When you are on our website, it is expected for each member (registered or not) to be following these simple rules and guidelines.

1. Do Not Hack, Exploit, or Damage this Website in Any Way, Shape, or Form. Some people may think that it is funny to see a website fail due to DDoS Attacks (Denial-of-Service Attacks), server crashes, and other such exploits that may be used to cripple the server that we are hosted on. It is expensive for us to be hosted on a web server and it is an inconveniance to our players if they are unable to log onto our website if it is down for any of the reasons listed beforehand. We will trace the IP address for who is responsible and take proper legal action.
2. Report All Bug Reports to Us ASAP. Do not abuse bugs that you may find on the website to your advantage. Whether if it is a bug or not, please address it by sending a VirtuMail Message to one of the Administrators, or by posting the problem in the Bug Reports DiscussionBoard category; and they will take a look at the problem ASAP and correct whatever may be wrong with it. Although the programming on this website is of a higher standard, bugs and slips may leak through and might not be noticed right away. Do the right thing and address it to us so that it is no longer a problem.

Communication Rules & Guidelines

There are several methods of Communication here on VirtuBots. We ask each and every member who is involved in one or more of the methods of Communication to follow these rules and guidelines, in addition to the Gereral Website Rules & Guidelines :

1. No Pornographic Material. Any sexually oriented posts, images, and links to such content will not be tolerated.
2. No Warez or Illegal Software. This includes linking to software, posting about it, suggesting to get it, and asking to get it.
3. No Cursing or Swear Words. We encourage you to use VirtuBots's methods of Communication as ways to debate topics, but please use proper adjectives to express yourself. We will not tolerate abuse upon another member. You will not use a creative way to hide your swearing on our methods of Communication. You will not use dashes or hyphens (-), asterisks (*), bullets (•), spaces, or any other character to hide your swearing from our filters. You will not 'try' to see if a swear word is blocked by our filters or not.
4. No Attacks / Retaliation of Any Kind Against a Member, or Group of Members. Personal Attacks and Threats will not be tolerated either.
5. You Will Not Post Anything That is Political, Social, or Religious. We wish to keep VirtuBots in no view of these things due to the fact that we don't wish to see arguments or fights taking place. VirtuBots is dedicated mainly towards gaming. We do not wish things to get out-of-topic as much.
6. No Drug & Alcohol Discussions. There is no need to discuss any illegal substance or alcohol consumption on our methods of Communication as it would in no way relate to our website of gaming.
7. If You are a Long Standing Member, Act Like One. Lead by example and assist other newer members rather than attacking them. We look upon our veteran members to use this opportunity to teach the newer members the appropriate usage of our methods of Communication.
8. Posts in a Particular Category Need to Stay on Topic. We set up several different categories in our DiscussionBoards for all topics to fit into. If you want help with your robot, then make your post in the Website Help category. If your post doesn't fit in any of the categories, then it probably would fit in the General Discussion category. If your topic is posted in the wrong category, your post MAY BE REMOVED by our Staff Members. Our Staff Members will try to direct you to the correct one. Be sure to remember for next time.
9. No Spamming. Spamming is characterized by the initiation of topics or replies that contribute nothing to our methods of Communication, be it off topic or on topic. Examples include : empty descriptions, descriptions with few words that have no relation to the current topic or discussion and those posts that state they are spam, either to annoy or increase a member's post count. This determination is made by our Staff Members & Administrators and is not up for discussion.
10. No Chainletters. We will not tolerate it if someone is sending chainletters to multiple accounts. This will be classified as SPAM.
11. Misuse of Smileys & BB Codes. You may use Smileys and BB Codes to help dress up your topic and description, but please do not abuse it's power. We recommend to use these occasionally, but not overdoing it.
12. Please Refrain from Posting One-Word Topics, Replies, and Messages. Please add more words to your topics, replies, and messages to make them more worthwhile and more 'powerful' to help get your idea across. One-word topics, replies, and messages can be considered as SPAM.
13. Posting the Same Message to Multiple Categories is Not Allowed. Please pick the most appropiate topic for your message. Do not post the same message on several categories as duplicate posts will be deleted.
14. Use the Search Page Before Posting. If you have a question, try searching for it as it may have already been answered.
15. Respect the Staff Members & Administrators. The Staff Members and Administrators who browse and monitor our methods of Communication are there to help make it an enjoyable place. By attacking them, harrassing them, annoying them, and being rude to them will most likely catch back at you. They have the power to freeze and ban members who do not follow these rules.
16. This is NOT a Dating Website. Please don't use VirtuBots as a way to meet a significant other. The purpose of this website is to be an online game, but NOT to be a dating site.
17. You Will Treat Others as You Wish to be Treated. As always, make sure that you treat someone how you would like to be treated (hopefully in a nice way). Breaking this rule will bring you to where you are no longer welcome at VirtuBots.
18. Use a Topic That Describes the Content of Your Post. Make your topic relevant to your message.
19. Don't Use All Caps or Special Characters to Draw Attention. These kinds of posts will be deleted.
20. Don't Use (|-|@+ $p3@|< (Chat Speak) For Entire Messages. Chat Speak is very hard to decypher and can be considered as SPAM if it is decyphered and has a meaningless message in it. Please, just use the standard text to post your messages.
21. Don't Use Binary, Hex, or Any Other Type of Encoding. Somewhat similar to Chat Speak, it is a hassle to try to decypher a message if it is written in Binary, Hex, or any other type of Encoding. It can also be classified as SPAM if it has a meaningless message once decyphered.
22. Use the English Language. Since this site is English, we wish to keep it that way. If you speak a different language fluently, we recommend you to translate your topic and message before posting by using http://www.freetranslation.com/. Those who do not translate their language will be temporarily banned.
23. Attempting to Hack a Member's Account. You will not attempt to steal, trick any member for their password, or hack into their account.
24. Enjoy Yourself. Be sure to enjoy yourself while talking with other members through any of our methods of Communication. You can have a great time posting and we look forward to your feedback.

This Page was last updated on Sat, Nov 24, 2007 @ 09:16:43 PM VirtuBots Time.