10 Controversial Video Games That Caused Major Moral Panic

9. Carmageddon

Inspired by the 1975 cult classic film Death Race 2000, Carmageddon is a very graphically violent vehicular combat game. It has inspired countless sequels and rip offs. Originally for the PC, it has been ported to other platforms. The gameplay is the player racing against computer controlled vehicles in different terrains. You can play it like a straight racing game but Carmageddon awards the player points for damaging other cars and running over pedestrians. Carmaggedon was censored in both the UK and Germany when it was released. They replaced the pedestrians with zombies (with green blood) and robots (black oil). The makers of the game wanted to actively court controversy by submitting it to the BBFC to get an 18 certificate (even though there was no film footage). This strategy blew up in their faces when the BBFC demanded the removal of all blood and gore. After 10 months of appeal, the BBFC gave in and passed the original version. Some countries banned the game and other countries passed it uncut. There followed several expansion packs and a remake is in the offing.