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The video game world is full of success stories — geeks who got the last laugh by becoming superstar developers with fat bank accounts. But as the industry matures, so do the people in it, making room for a new generation of entrepreneurial gamers.

And already, people too young to even buy beer are making a fortune from the video game world. Here are a few up and comers to keep your eye on:

Tom ‘Tsquared’ Taylor

Age: 21

Why you should watch him: One of the world’s foremost “Halo” players, Taylor is one third of team Str8 Rippin. He’s also the face of Major League Gaming and one of the top-earning players today.

Bragging rights: Taylor’s face was pasted onto 175 million bottles of Dr. Pepper in the early part of 2009, part of the drink’s sponsorship of Str8 Rippin.

Financials: Last year, Taylor earned over $100,000 in cash and prizes.

Bryan ‘Legit’ Rizzo &

Dark side of gaming

Depending on exactly how you define the term, virtual world games have an audience that’s somewhere in the region of 20-30 million players around the world. The vast majority of them, whether they’re into World of Warcraft, Runescape, or Club Penguin, enjoy healthy, safe, and relaxing entertainment — but these pastimes aren’t without their dangers. From addiction to theft to divorce, careless behavior in virtual worlds can lead to real consequences. Here’s a few recent headlines, and a few tips on how to keep yourself (or your family) safe.

Is World of Warcraft “the most dangerous game”?

Virtual worlds are designed to be addictive. That’s how the creators make money: if its players get bored, they give up and quit paying. Nothing wrong with addictive games in moderation, but when obsessed players put virtual rewards over real jobs, relationships, and chores, lives