I don't think it's quite as bad as you make out. Like you, playing video games from a young age was the entry point for me into computing, but (partly also due

I don't think it's quite as bad as you make out. Like you, playing video games from a young age was the entry point for me into computing, but (partly also due to every adult saying they were a waste of time) I didn't realise until much later (17-18) that I could take that interest and make it in to a fulfilling career. Despite the walled gardens, tools are still out there for people who want to make new or hack existing games, and people who want to do that will find a way. They will have a curiosity about how things work that won't be quelled until they figure it out, and the process of figuring it out will be half the fun plus a large chunk of the learning.