<p>Some of the best programmers are in the gaming industry and many (I’d say most in my experience) do not have degrees. Some have coursework, but colleges are a bit ponderous in terms of innovation and responding to industry trends. Colleges have actually tried to jump into the gaming business by creating game design programs, but the movers and shakers in the business largely do not have CS degrees.</p>
<p>Big businesses tend to hire people with degrees because they institutionally have no way to measure the ability of someone who has skills.</p>