Backer Policies & Campaign Terms — Platform 13

1. Nature of the Campaign

The Platform 13 campaign is a reward-based community support initiative intended to fund the sound design, creature visual effects, testing, and production of Platform 13 by Rural Games Studio Private Limited.

Contributions made through this campaign represent voluntary support toward independent Indian video game production. It is NOT an investment or equity offering.

Making a contribution does NOT provide the Backer with: equity or shares in Rural Games Studio; company ownership; voting or management control; revenue sharing; dividends; or financial returns. Backers receive the eligible digital game copies, beta passes, in-game items, and credits associated with their selected tier.

2. Backer Reward Tiers & Deliverables

Contributions unlock specific tier rewards verified and linked to your unified Rural Games Player Account:

₹19 — Supporter Tier: Verified Player Account Supporter Badge + Discord Supporter Role & Private Dev Room + Monthly Production Sketches & Devlogs.
₹49 — Explorer Tier: 4K Digital Wallpapers & Creature Sketches PDF + Platform 13 OST 5-Track Digital Sampler + Discord Explorer Role + All Supporter Perks.
₹249 — Platform 13 Game Edition (Featured): Guaranteed Full Digital Game Copy on Release Day (Steam Key) + Closed Alpha & Beta Playtest Access Pass + Exclusive In-Game Brass Lantern & Weapon Skin.
₹499 — Studio Champion Tier: Official Name Recognition in Platform 13 Game Credits + Full Game Copy + Closed Beta Pass + Complete Lossless OST Album + Exclusive Lawman Outfit.
Custom Contributions (₹1 to ₹499): Custom pledges of ₹249 and above automatically unlock the full Platform 13 game copy and beta pass.

3. Digital Game Key Delivery & Release Timeline

For tiers including a digital copy of Platform 13 (₹249+), digital keys (Steam / PC) will be distributed automatically via the backer's linked Rural Games Player Account dashboard upon official release in 2026.

Closed Beta and Alpha access passes will be dispatched in waves (starting Q2 2026) to the backer's verified email and player account.

4. Development Flexibility & Integrity

Video game development is an evolving artistic and engineering process. Concepts, atmospheric mechanics, and visual assets represent work in progress. Rural Games Studio is committed to full transparency through monthly devlogs and active Discord updates.

Core Guarantee: While artistic elements and gameplay balance evolve during production, core reward entitlements (such as full game copies and beta access) are permanently guaranteed and will not be removed.

5. Backer Credits & Wall Recognition

Backers at the Studio Champion (₹499) tier and Public Backer Wall participants may choose their preferred display name. Rural Games Studio reserves the right to reject names containing offensive, defamatory, infringing, or illegal language. Backers may also choose to remain anonymous.

6. Governing Law & Acceptance

These Terms are governed by the laws of India. By completing a pledge, the backer confirms agreement to these terms and the linked refund policy.

1. Refund Guidelines

Our refund procedures comply strictly with India's Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules and payment gateway guidelines:

A. 14-Day Voluntary Cancellation Window

Backers may request a full refund of their contribution within 14 calendar days of payment, provided digital game keys or exclusive alpha playtest codes have not yet been generated or redeemed.

B. Duplicate Transactions

If a technical glitch or accidental double-tap causes a duplicate charge, 100% of the duplicate amount will be refunded immediately upon verification.

C. Payment Debited but Not Reflected

If money is deducted from your bank account or UPI app but the campaign HUD or profile does not register the pledge, the payment gateway (Razorpay) will automatically reconcile the transaction within 24–48 hours or initiate a direct reversal.

D. Campaign Cancellation Guarantee

In the improbable event that Platform 13 production permanently ceases before key distribution, uncommitted funds will be returned to backers with transparent accounting provided to the community.

2. Refund Processing Timelines

Standard Reversal Timelines:
• UPI / Instant NetBanking: 24 to 48 hours.
• Credit / Debit Cards: 5 to 7 business days (depending on your issuing bank).

3. Security & Payment Processing

All financial transactions are handled through certified PCI-DSS compliant payment gateways (Razorpay) with 256-bit SSL encryption. Rural Games Studio never stores sensitive debit/credit card numbers or UPI PINs.

1. Privacy & DPDP Act 2023 Compliance

Rural Games Studio processes personal information in accordance with India's Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. Information provided during pledge (name, email, city/region, transaction ID) is used solely to:

Verify backer authenticity and bind game licenses to your account
Deliver Steam activation keys and beta invites
Display backer recognition on the public wall (if opted in)
Send development milestones and fulfillment notifications

Personal data is never sold, rented, or distributed to third-party marketing companies.

2. Grievance Redressal Mechanism

In compliance with Indian E-Commerce rules, backers can direct all inquiries, payment questions, and support requests to our dedicated Grievance Officer:

Studio Entity	Rural Games Studio Private Limited
Official Contact Email	ruralgamesofficial@gmail.com
Grievance Officer	Sunny Rajput (Founder & Director)
Response Time	Acknowledgement within 48 business hours; resolution within 30 days
Support Hours	Monday – Saturday, 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM IST