I think of software engineering as creative, and math also as creative. But they might not be creative in the way your son thinks.
I love this blog post from a guy who knows about careers in game programming:http://codesuppository.blogspot.com/2013/04/so-your-teenager-tells-you-they-want-to.html
Many young people will readily admit that they don’t have the artistic talent necessary to be a game artist but are confident that they have what it takes to be a game programmer.
My first question to that statement always begins (and usually ends) with ‘How good is your kid at math?’ If the answer is anything other than ‘My kid is great at math and we go to state math competitions on a regular basis’ then, really, forget about it.
There are lots of jobs in computer software where you do not, necessarily, have to be really, really, really, good at math. Computer games are not one of them.
When I went to college 30 years ago, a degree in computer science required three semesters of calculus, differential equations, linear algebra, and matrix algebra, and things have only become more demanding since then.
The amount of mathematics behind the technology in computer video games today is staggering. Even if you don’t use that level of math on a daily basis you certainly need the background and to have the kind of mind that is capable of grasping and learning it.
If your kid is not an expert at math, don’t even bother discussing the subject of being a computer game programmer. It’s a non-starter.
I don’t know about going to state math competitions, but IMO a person who will be successful in the kind of programming required for game development is the kind of person who regards a tricky math problem as a delightful challenge.