Final answer:
The U.S. video-game industry in the 1970s was influenced by Japan, which had a robust game industry and became an innovator in high technology following WWII. This helped shape the U.S. video-game industry amidst increasing global competition.
Step-by-step explanation:
The influence on the U.S. video-game industry in the 1970s came from Japan, which had a thriving game industry of its own. By the 1970s, Japan had become an innovator in high technology, largely as a result of economic policies and investment in the post-WWII era that transformed it from a producer of cheap knock-offs into a world leader in high-tech industries. This shift in the global economic landscape also led to other Asian countries like Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan developing rapidly, often with support from the U.S. aimed at countering the spread of communism.
While U.S. manufacturers faced increased competition from abroad, including from Japan, the U.S. video-game industry benefited from Japanese innovation and developments. The Japanese video game industry's influence is an example of how economic transformations and international competition can shape industries across national borders.