Making money from video games?

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 & Eric 'Snipedown' Wrona



Ages: 19, 18

Why you should watch them They keep lower profiles, but the other two-thirds of Str8 Rippin are also sponsored by Dr. Pepper and could see their fortunes expand as they get older.

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: Both earned between $30,000 and $60,000 in prizes and sponsorship fees last year.