In a move that surprised many, Apple has removed the game “Weed Firm” from its App Store, which allowed players to grow marijuana and distribute it. “Weed Firm” was ranked number one on the list of top downloads on the Apple Store for days before its removal, becoming one of the top grossing apps of the season. Even so, it was wiped off the map without an explanation from Cupertino.
According to a statement from Manitoba Games (the game’s developer), “This was entirely Apple’s decision. We guess the problem was that the game was just too good and got to number one in All Categories”. And they show that there are a good number of games in the App Store that promote so-called “illegal activities”, such as shooting people, crashing cars at top speed or throwing defenceless birds at buildings.
However, for the Apple giant, marijuana seems to be a much more significant reason to veto their presence from the Olympus of their top lists, despite the fact that the Apple Store is full of other marijuana-related games (Weed Farmer, Weed Tycoon, iRoll Up Friends, etc.), as well as other apps that even let you buy weed legally in Colorado.
As stated in the App Store rules, the company reserves the right to refuse or remove any application in which the content or behaviour is considered inappropriate, without further explanations. And in this case, a game ranked Top 1 in downloads did not escape the axe, despite the existence of similar titles in the catalogue that are not as successful and don’t make as much noise in the media.
The premise of “Weed Firm” is based on a sophomore in botany named Ted Growing who gets expelled from the university and inherits a cannabis crop plantation in a suburban home. The player (named Ted) has to learn how to grow weed, including the selection of new genetic strains, and how to expand his customer base, trying to become the biggest supplier of weed in the area. Since he is involved in a black market industry, Ted also has to deal with violent competitors, gangsters and, of course, the police.
The game “Weed Firm” is not yet available for Android in the Google Store, but Manitoba Games says that the problem in this case has to do with their publisher and not with the game’s administration in the Google Play Store. They conclude their statement with a rightfully appropriate plea directly aimed at Steve Jobs’ heirs: “If we let hypocrites determine what content is suitable for us we will soon all be watching Teletubbies instead of Breaking Bad and playing... I don't know… nothing good comes to mind, without some form of 'illegal activity' or other really.