Aupers has done so far 20 interviews with passionate gamers. According to Aupers there are four major playing motives;

1. The speed in which you can acquire status and reward. Aupers regards this as a major motive in the virtual gaming world rewards are much faster than in real life. “There is less resistance in getting things done”.(Philip Rosedale Linden Lab)
2. Magic Elements. The people that he intevriewd describe themselves as realistic, theu do not think that they are a magician or a druide.But they do have an interest in bewitching and magic.That is gone in our day to day life. “The world is disenchanted”.His gamers are cynic about the real world and especially about politics. In the game they experience a new form of spirituality. Gamers are usually high educated young people with a rather normal life.
3. Social structure. Gaming offers a community, a feeling of belonging to a neotribe. These communities are replacing the old commmunity forms as the church and , the village and and the sportclubs.Informal rules can be quite heavy. If you are not a specific amount of hours on line(AFK, off the key board) you run the risk being thrown out of the game.
4. The ability to make money. On e bay is a lot of trade in virtual goods, as magic swords, and shields. Also gamelevels are for sale.Here there is a connection to second life( see post)