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1 entry of 164 involving National Safety Council

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1970-1979 The 1970s

A driving game sets off the first national panic over violence

Exidy's cabinet asked players to run down small figures that shrieked and left crosses behind. Safety groups condemned it, national news covered it, and some operators removed it, establishing a pattern that has repeated ever since.

Key facts and significance Hide details
Platform
Arcade cabinets
Region
North America
Period
The 1970s

Why it matters

Every later fight over violent content followed this template. A game of modest commercial importance becomes a symbol, coverage amplifies it, distributors rather than lawmakers face the pressure, and sales rise. The episode also revealed how unprepared a young industry was to speak for itself in public.

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