Advertising Disclosure
Last Updated: October 22, 2025
Data Stream is committed to transparency in all our business practices. This disclosure explains our advertising relationships, affiliate partnerships, and how we may earn revenue through various marketing channels. We believe in honest communication about these relationships so you can make informed decisions when engaging with our content and services.
Affiliate Relationships and Partnerships
Affiliate Program Participation
Data Stream may participate in affiliate marketing programs with various technology platforms, development tools, and service providers. When we recommend products or services that we genuinely use or believe would benefit arcade game developers, we may include affiliate links. These are special tracking links that allow us to earn a commission if you make a purchase through that link.
Our participation in affiliate programs includes partnerships with game development software providers, cloud infrastructure platforms, analytics tools, and other relevant technology services. The presence of an affiliate relationship does not influence our honest assessment of these tools and services.
Commission Structure
When you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant. This commission comes at no additional cost to you and does not affect the price you pay for products or services. Commission rates vary by program and product category, typically ranging from a small percentage of the sale price to a fixed amount per conversion.
These commissions help support our operations and allow us to continue providing valuable information and services to the arcade game development community. However, we never let potential commission earnings compromise the integrity of our recommendations or the quality of our content.
Product Recommendation Policy
Our recommendations are based on genuine experience and evaluation. We only promote products and services that we:
- Have personally used or thoroughly researched
- Believe provide value to arcade game developers
- Consider appropriate for the development contexts we discuss
- Would recommend even without financial incentive
The existence of an affiliate relationship never influences whether we recommend a product. Our primary obligation is to provide honest, helpful guidance to our audience.
Financial Relationship Transparency
We maintain transparency about our affiliate relationships. When we reference products or services where we have an affiliate arrangement, we make reasonable efforts to disclose this relationship. However, not every mention of a partnered product will carry an explicit disclosure, particularly in general discussions or casual references. This disclosure page serves as our general notice of affiliate participation.
Sponsored Content and Paid Promotions
Sponsored Content Policy
Occasionally, we may publish content sponsored by third-party companies or feature paid promotional materials. Sponsored content means we have been compensated financially or through other benefits to create or feature specific content about a product, service, or company.
All sponsored content is clearly labeled as such. We use designations like "Sponsored," "Paid Partnership," "Advertisement," or similar language to identify content created under commercial arrangements. We maintain editorial independence even in sponsored contexts and only work with sponsors whose products or services align with our values and audience interests.
Brand Partnership Disclosures
We may enter into partnerships with technology companies, game publishers, or service providers in the arcade development ecosystem. These partnerships might include:
- Sponsored case studies featuring partner technologies
- Paid content creation about partner products or services
- Brand ambassadorship or long-term promotional arrangements
- Complimentary access to tools or services in exchange for coverage
Even when we receive compensation or benefits, we strive to provide honest assessments and maintain objectivity in our coverage. Our opinions remain our own, and we clearly distinguish between editorial content and promotional material.
Content Authenticity Guarantee
While we may create sponsored content, we never compromise the authenticity of our voice or mislead our audience about commercial relationships. We refuse sponsorship arrangements that require us to make false claims, withhold negative information, or present promotional content as independent editorial. Our reputation and audience trust are more valuable than any sponsorship deal.
Third-Party Advertising Networks
Display Advertising
Our website may display advertisements served by third-party advertising networks. These networks use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information about your browsing behavior across websites in order to show you relevant advertisements. The ads you see may be based on factors like your location, browsing history, and interests.
Behavioral Targeting
Third-party advertisers may use behavioral targeting to deliver personalized advertisements. This involves:
- Tracking your visits to various websites over time
- Collecting data about your interests and preferences
- Using this information to show targeted advertisements
- Measuring ad effectiveness and engagement
We do not directly control third-party advertising networks or their data collection practices. Please review their privacy policies to understand how they handle your information.
Cookie Usage for Advertising
Advertising partners use cookies to deliver relevant ads and measure campaign performance. These cookies track information like which ads you've seen, which you've clicked, and whether you've completed desired actions after clicking an ad. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings or our cookie management tools. See our Cookie Policy for detailed information about cookie usage.
Ad Personalization Practices
Advertising networks may create profiles about your interests to show personalized ads. While this can make advertisements more relevant to you, it involves data collection across multiple websites. You have the right to opt out of personalized advertising through industry opt-out tools, browser settings, or the preferences available in our Cookie Policy page.
Your Rights and Controls
Ad Preference Management
You have several options for managing your advertising preferences:
- Adjust cookie settings through our Cookie Policy page
- Use browser settings to block or limit cookies
- Opt out of personalized advertising through industry tools
- Install browser extensions that block advertising trackers
Opt-Out Procedures
To opt out of personalized advertising, you can visit preference management tools provided by advertising industry associations. Keep in mind that opting out of personalized ads doesn't mean you'll see fewer advertisements, but rather that the ads you see will be less tailored to your interests. Some advertising networks require opt-outs on each browser and device you use.
Data Collection for Advertising
When you interact with advertisements on our site, third-party advertising networks may collect information including your IP address, browser type, device identifiers, pages viewed, time spent on pages, and clicks on advertisements. This data helps advertisers measure campaign effectiveness and optimize ad delivery. For more information about data collection practices, please review our Privacy Policy.
Rights Under Privacy Regulations
Depending on your location, you may have specific rights regarding advertising data collection under privacy regulations like GDPR or CCPA. These rights may include accessing data collected about you, requesting deletion of advertising data, or restricting processing for advertising purposes. Contact us if you wish to exercise these rights or have questions about advertising data practices.
FTC Compliance and Legal Requirements
This advertising disclosure is provided in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on endorsements and testimonials. We comply with the FTC's requirement that relationships between publishers and advertisers be disclosed when there could be a financial interest in promoted products or services.
Our goal is to maintain transparency with our audience about commercial relationships while providing valuable, honest content about arcade game development. We believe that disclosure strengthens trust and allows you to make informed decisions about the products and services we discuss. If you have questions about any specific relationship or disclosure, please contact us through our contact form.