Death Race
1976 · Racing · Arcade
Overview
Death Race is a 1976 arcade game by Exidy that became the first video game to spark a major public controversy over video game violence. Based loosely on the cult film Death Race 2000, players drive cars across a top-down playfield and score points by running over small stick-figure 'gremlins.' When hit, the figures scream and turn into grave markers that become obstacles. The National Safety Council called for the game to be banned, newspapers ran exposés, and the controversy attracted national television coverage — predating later moral panics over video game violence by nearly two decades.
Deep Dive
Death Race was developed by Howell Ivy at Exidy and was originally called Pedestrian. The game's simple black-and-white graphics showed a top-down car navigating a field of running gremlins. Critics and parent groups argued that the game encouraged violence against humans, even though Exidy maintained the victims were mythological creatures. The controversy was covered by 60 Minutes, which broadcast a segment warning parents about the game. Ironically, the publicity dramatically increased sales — Death Race became one of Exidy's best-sellers. The controversy established the template for all subsequent video game violence debates and indirectly led to the industry's later efforts at self-regulation through rating systems.
