I am 28 and a video game fanatic.....tho I would NEVER quit my job to play full time. I also play alittle drums,guitar and a little bass and althoght the game(s) is fun there is alot more to be acomplished with the real thing. As far as people paying them it is all from marketing. You get the game out and people love it and it becomes a job to them. Think of all the people that sign up for the tournements and prob. $100 entry(and we are prob. talking thousands) fee and 1 winner. Yeah they have top 3 I belive but not near the payoff for first. That's is how the money game is played.Hope this helps in any way.-Ray