Economic Downturn Affects Tribes 2

The September terrorist attacks have had a wide-ranging impact on the economy, affecting everything from airlines to theaters and restaurants. Now the economic downturn has hit Tribes 2, impacting teams and players who thought computer gaming was immune to the financial difficulties unsettling other businesses.

Many teams have felt the repercussions and have had to do some belt tightening in order to adjust to the new economic realities. Clans are laying off players and offering Tribes 1 veterans early retirement. The team market is tight, and there are now thousands of newly unaffiliated players competing for the minimal number of openings.

Some teams have even gone out of business entirely. The most famous example is the old school tribe 5150. Team leader and one of the founders, sLaM, reported a sharp drop in revenues as fearful consumers stopped attending ladder matches, resulting in the team shuttering their Tribes 2 franchise.

Industry analysts are guardedly optimistic about the Tribes 2 economy. "It will hurt for a while longer yet," said Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan. "Expectations are for a rebound in the economy next year, but signs of recovery have yet to emerge." Alex "Marweas" Rodberg, Sierra's Tribes 2 brand manager, remained upbeat. "Things may seem bleak now, but they'll get better. They've got to, look at all these Tribes 2 mouse pads we still have!"