Would You Approve a Drug Dealing Video Game?

The latest iPhone game to go viral has been taken down before most of us got to play it.

The controversial Weed Firm app was briefly number one in every category of games before being pulled by Apple and Google Play. The free game had received over 5,000 positive reviews before it was shelved.

The story of the game follows the adventures of college dropout Ted Growing as he rises through the ranks in the underground marijuana trade. The object of the game is to cultivate and sell marijuana while interacting with a cast of gangsters and strippers along the way.

Manitoba Games, the developer of Weed Firm, expressed disappointment over the yanked game: “We do not want kids playing Weed Firm, but we firmly believe that adults should have a choice to do whatever the hell they want as long as they are not hurting anybody in the process.”

Apple has notoriously strict guidelines amid app developers. The game was originally approved with the highest maturity rating. However something seems to have prompted Apple to remove the game. Others suggested it may have been all of the graphic, adult content that depicts drug dealing and sex acts.

Representatives stated, “We guess the problem was that the game was just too good and got to number one in All Categories. There are certainly a great number of weed based apps still available, as well as games promoting other so-called ‘illegal activities’ such as shooting people, crashing cars, and throwing birds at buildings.” (In reference to Angry Birds.)

There are certainly a great number of weed based apps still available, as well as games promoting other so-called ‘illegal activities’ such as shooting people, crashing cars, and throwing birds at buildings.”

Obviously someone is upset about the news. But the controversy may have promoted the game more than anything. Manitoba Games expressed interest in developing a censored version that will pass guidelines.

The app generated a lot of positive reviews. Colorado’s The Cannabist went so far as to say, “After easily losing 20 minutes to the game: Weed Firm is way more addictive than the weed itself.”