Terms of Use

These Terms of Use ("Terms") govern access to and use of SleuthCity, including the SleuthCity website, player accounts, games, investigations, evidence, QR codes, physical-location activities, leaderboards and related services.

By creating an account or participating in SleuthCity, you agree to these Terms.

If you do not agree, do not use SleuthCity.

1. About SleuthCity

SleuthCity is an interactive murder-mystery game that combines online gameplay with visits to real-world locations.

Players review fictional evidence, visit locations, scan QR codes, unlock Evidence Lockers, earn Merit Points ("MP") and attempt to solve fictional cases.

SleuthCity is currently operated as a sole proprietorship based in Alberta, Canada.

2. Fictional Content

SleuthCity cases may include fictional depictions or references to murder, crime, missing persons, police investigations, deception and other mystery/crime themes.

Cases are fictional unless expressly stated otherwise. Any resemblance between fictional characters or events and real persons or events is coincidental unless otherwise disclosed.

SleuthCity is generally intended to have a PG-13-style content level, but players and parents or guardians are responsible for determining whether a particular case is appropriate for them or a minor in their care.

3. Accounts

You may be required to create a free account to participate.

You agree to:

• provide reasonably accurate account information;
• maintain the confidentiality of your login credentials;
• use your own account;
• not impersonate another person;
• not create accounts for fraudulent or abusive purposes; and
• promptly notify us if you believe your account has been compromised.

You are responsible for activity conducted through your account to the extent permitted by law.

4. Detective Names and Public Profiles

Players select a Detective Name that may be displayed publicly.

You must not use a Detective Name that is unlawful, threatening, hateful, discriminatory, sexually explicit, impersonates another person, infringes intellectual property rights or is otherwise inappropriate for SleuthCity.

We may remove, change or require you to change a Detective Name that violates these Terms.

Public game information may include your Detective Name, leaderboard position, MP and other designated gameplay statistics.

5. How the Game Works

Each investigation may contain a series of Evidence Lockers.

Players may be required to visit designated locations and scan SleuthCity QR codes to unlock evidence and advance through an investigation.

Cases may have opening and closing dates. Once a case closes, some gameplay functions may become unavailable.

Players are responsible for completing investigations within the applicable period.

6. Physical Locations and Player Safety

SleuthCity is an entertainment experience. Players independently decide when, how and whether to travel to game locations.

SleuthCity does not transport or supervise players.

While participating, you are responsible for:

• paying attention to your surroundings;
• obeying traffic laws and signals;
• using appropriate pedestrian routes and crossings;
• complying with applicable laws;
• respecting private property;
• complying with participating-business rules and operating hours;
• considering weather and environmental conditions;
• determining whether a route or activity is appropriate for your abilities and circumstances; and
• supervising minors where appropriate.

Never enter restricted, closed, dangerous or unauthorized areas in order to obtain a clue or QR code.

You should not use your phone in a manner that distracts you from traffic, vehicles, hazards or your surroundings.

If a location or activity appears unsafe or inaccessible, do not proceed. Contact us if necessary for assistance with continuing the investigation.

7. Participating Businesses

Participating businesses are independent businesses and are not agents, employees or representatives of SleuthCity merely because they host a QR code, location or promotion.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, participating businesses do not administer SleuthCity investigations and are not responsible for clues, case content, accounts, technical functionality, MP, solves or prize administration.

Any purchase from a participating business is a transaction between you and that business.

SleuthCity is not responsible for the quality, safety, availability, pricing or performance of goods or services supplied by participating businesses, subject to rights that cannot legally be excluded.

No purchase is required to play or complete a SleuthCity investigation.

8. Local Support Bonuses

Some participating businesses may offer an optional Local Support Bonus.

A qualifying purchase may allow a player to scan a separate QR code and receive bonus MP or another specified benefit.

Local Support Bonuses:

• are optional;
• are not required to progress through the investigation;
• may vary by case or business;
• may generally be claimed only once per player per participating business unless otherwise stated; and
• may be changed, withdrawn or substituted.

Players must not claim a purchase-based Local Support Bonus without making the qualifying purchase.

9. Merit Points

SleuthCity may award or deduct MP for gameplay activities.

MP values, eligible activities and scoring systems may change between cases.

MP may be awarded for activities such as:

• unlocking Evidence Lockers;
• completing an investigation;
• submitting a correct solve;
• maintaining a streak;
• referrals;
• Local Support Bonuses; or
• other designated activities.

MP may also be deducted for designated actions, such as using certain hints.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, MP:

• has no cash value;
• cannot be transferred between accounts;
• cannot be sold; and
• cannot be redeemed for cash.

Case MP and Lifetime MP may be calculated separately.

10. Prize Draws

Some SleuthCity cases may include a prize promotion. A prize is not guaranteed for every case or every month.

Where a prize is offered, additional Official Prize Rules apply.

Unless otherwise stated in the applicable promotion, each eligible Case MP may constitute one entry into the prize draw associated with that case.

This means that optional activities that award Case MP, including eligible Local Support Bonuses, may increase a player's number of entries.

The availability of a prize, applicable prize information and other required disclosures will be provided through SleuthCity or associated promotional materials.

Participation in any prize promotion is subject to the applicable Official Prize Rules.

Competition Bureau guidance requires promotional contests to disclose the number and approximate value of prizes and material facts affecting chances of winning, and winner selection must be random or skill-based.

11. Fair Play and Cheating

You must not manipulate SleuthCity or obtain game benefits through unauthorized means.

Prohibited conduct includes:

• sharing restricted QR codes for the purpose of bypassing locations;
• using another player's account to unlock locations;
• falsifying Local Support Bonus purchases;
• manipulating QR scans;
• creating duplicate or fake accounts to obtain MP, referrals or prize entries;
• exploiting bugs or vulnerabilities;
• attempting to alter MP or gameplay records;
• circumventing locked Evidence Lockers;
• accessing administrative or restricted systems without authorization;
• automating gameplay or scraping protected content; or
• otherwise manipulating the game or a prize promotion.

We may investigate suspected abuse and may revoke MP, remove prize entries, disqualify a player from a promotion, suspend or terminate an account, or take other reasonable action.

12. Referrals

SleuthCity may provide referral codes or referral-based rewards.

You must not use misleading, automated, fraudulent or abusive methods to generate referrals.

Referral programs and associated rewards may be modified or discontinued.

13. Intellectual Property

SleuthCity and its associated content—including cases, stories, fictional characters, evidence, photographs and graphics created for cases, puzzles, written materials, game mechanics as protectable, branding, logos, designs and other original content—are owned by or licensed to SleuthCity and are protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.

You may use SleuthCity content for your own personal, non-commercial participation in the game.

You may also engage in reasonable social sharing about your SleuthCity experience.

You may not, without permission:

• reproduce or republish substantial portions of a case or evidence set;
• sell, license or commercially exploit SleuthCity content;
• create unauthorized copies of the game;
• systematically scrape or extract content;
• distribute protected QR codes for the purpose of circumventing gameplay;
• remove ownership notices;
• circumvent access controls; or
• use SleuthCity intellectual property in a manner that falsely suggests affiliation or endorsement.

14. Case and Location Changes

Real-world games sometimes require real-world changes.

We may modify:

• case content;
• clues;
• Evidence Lockers;
• participating locations;
• participating businesses;
• routes;
• dates;
• MP values;
• offers;
• game mechanics; or
• availability.

We may postpone, modify or cancel a case where reasonably necessary.

If a required physical location becomes unavailable, we may substitute another location or provide another reasonable method of continuing the investigation.

15. Availability and Technical Problems

We aim to keep SleuthCity available and functioning, but uninterrupted availability is not guaranteed.

Technical problems may arise from internet connections, mobile devices, QR scanners, browsers, third-party providers, maintenance, outages or circumstances outside our control.

We may temporarily suspend access for maintenance, security or operational reasons.

16. Disclaimers

SleuthCity is provided for entertainment purposes.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, SleuthCity is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis without warranties or representations that the service will always be uninterrupted, error-free or suitable for every player.

We do not guarantee that:

• every location will always be open or accessible;
• every participating business will remain available;
• every device will successfully scan every QR code;
• the game will operate without interruption; or
• a player will correctly solve a case.

Nothing in these Terms excludes warranties, guarantees or consumer rights that cannot legally be excluded.

17. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, SleuthCity will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages arising from participation in SleuthCity.

SleuthCity is not responsible for injury, loss or damage caused by a player's failure to exercise reasonable care, obey laws, observe traffic and surroundings, respect property restrictions or follow reasonable safety precautions.

SleuthCity is also not responsible for acts or omissions of independent participating businesses or third-party service providers except to the extent liability cannot legally be excluded.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or limit liability where doing so is prohibited by law.

18. Suspension and Termination

We may suspend, restrict or terminate an account where we reasonably believe a player has:

• violated these Terms;
• cheated or manipulated gameplay;
• interfered with another player;
• abused participating businesses;
• compromised game security;
• engaged in unlawful conduct; or
• created risk to SleuthCity, other players or third parties.

We may also eventually remove accounts that have remained inactive for an extended period.

19. Privacy

Use of SleuthCity is also governed by our Privacy Policy.

20. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms as SleuthCity evolves.

Material changes will take effect in accordance with applicable law. Continued use after an updated version takes effect may constitute acceptance where permitted by law.

21. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Alberta and the applicable federal laws of Canada, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Nothing in this section deprives you of rights that cannot legally be waived under the laws applicable to you.

22. Contact

Questions about these Terms may be sent to:

SleuthCity dispatch@sleuthcity.ca Alberta, Canada