Terms of Use

1. Scope

These Terms set out the conditions for using the iOS app “HotPot Story” (the “App”) provided by appful Inc. (“we,” “us,” or “our”). You shall use the App after agreeing to these Terms.

2. Accounts

No account registration is required to use the App. We do not create accounts based on your name, email address, or similar information, and the App has no login feature. Your save data is stored on your device (for details, please see the Privacy Policy).

3. Ads

• The App is free to play. To keep it free, the App shows banner ads, ads shown during construction, and full-screen ads shown at screen transitions.
• Video ads (rewarded ads) for receiving rewards such as a sales boost play only when you choose to watch them. If you do not watch a video ad to the end, no reward is given.
• The handling of ad-related information is set out in the Privacy Policy.

4. In-app purchase: “Remove Ads”

“Remove Ads” is a paid item that stops banner ads, ads shown during construction, and full-screen ads from being shown. It is a single payment, with no renewals or additional payments afterward (a one-time purchase). The App has no auto-renewable subscriptions. Purchases and payments are made through Apple's App Store, and the price shown on the purchase screen in the App Store applies.

Video ads (rewarded ads) are optional to watch and remain available even after you purchase “Remove Ads.” All features needed to progress in the game are available whether or not you have purchased “Remove Ads.”

5. Restoring purchases

If you have purchased “Remove Ads,” you can restore it at any time on the same Apple Account by tapping “Restore Purchases” on the Remove Ads screen. Note that what is restored is your right to the purchase; the save data on your device is not restored (Section 7).

6. Refunds

Refunds are subject to Apple's App Store policies. We do not issue refunds directly.

7. Handling of save data

• Data such as your shop's progress, sales, unlocked equipment, hired staff, upgrade status, and settings is stored only on your device. It is never sent to our servers.
• Therefore, if you delete the App, this data is lost as well. It also does not carry over if you switch to a new device.
• We are unable to restore data stored on your device.

8. In-game money

In-game sales and money are fictional, can be used only within the App, and have no real-world monetary or other property value. They cannot be exchanged for cash or transferred to other users.

9. Intellectual property

All rights to the App and to the programs, characters, illustrations, music, sound effects, and text it contains belong to us or to their rightful owners. You may not copy, republish, or distribute them beyond the scope of personal use.

10. Prohibited conduct

• Reverse engineering, decompiling, or modifying the App.
• Manipulating save data, ad viewing records, or purchase status by improper means.
• Interfering with ad delivery, such as by making ads play or be clicked automatically.
• Any act that violates laws or public order and morals, or that infringes the rights of us or any third party.

11. Disclaimer

The App is provided “as is.” Except to the extent required by law, we are not liable for any damages (including the loss of save data) arising from your network environment, the condition of your device, outages of external services, or the failure, loss, or reset of your device.

12. Changes to, suspension, or termination of the service

We may change the contents of the App, or suspend or terminate its provision.

13. Changes to these Terms

We will revise these Terms as necessary. If we make significant changes, we will announce them on this page or in the App, and the changes will take effect on or after the date of the announcement. If you continue to use the App after a change, you will be deemed to have agreed to the revised Terms.

14. Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of Japan. Any dispute arising in connection with the App shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Tokyo District Court as the court of first instance.

15. Contact

Operator: appful Inc. (Responsible Manager: Ryusei Okamoto)
Contact: info@appful.tokyo