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Apple contradicts its political commentary policy with Chipotle Scarecrow iOS game

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Apple contradicts its political commentary policy with Chipotle Scarecrow iOS game
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iOS
| Chipotle Scarecrow

Apple has contradicted its own policies by allowing Chipotle, the Mexican grill restaurant chain, to publish a game on the App Store that criticises its rival companies.

One of Apple's policies regards apps that "solely target a specific race, culture, a real government or corporation, or any other real entity" as being ripe for refusal on to the App Store.

This line was used to prevent Endgame: Syria getting on to Apple's App Store, for example. It's not the only one, either; Smuggle Truck, Angry Syria and Joyful Executions were also rejected based on Apple's policies.

Lazy Gamer brought Chipotle Scarecrow to our attention, as being a game that follows the titular scarecrow as he shows the people of the game's world the alternatives to processed foods that they regularly consume.

Of course, the alternative is presented as being Chipotle Mexican Grill.

The description of the game supplied by Chipotle themselves is as follows: "Players will explore the dark world of industrial food production and correct the wrongs committed by industrial food giant Crow Foods."

Chipotle Scarecrow

Crow Foods is a fictional company, but it's obvious as to who it alludes. Chipotle's criticism of rival chain restaurants and the industry that supports them is easy to see.

Although Chipotle's message is a good one, it's steeped in self-advertising and clearly an aggressive move against its competitors. Yet, Apple has no problem with this, whereas it has shown strict policy adherence against titles with similar social or political commentary in the past.

Chipotle has released a short alongside the game which advances its factory farming vs. local farming angle.

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If you want to check out Chipotle Scarecrow for yourself, you can grab it for free on the App Store [download].

Chris Priestman
Chris Priestman
Anything eccentric, macabre, or just plain weird, is what Chris is all about. He turns the spotlight on the games that fly under the radar.