dont know about ameriaca, in europe (and canada) it appears to be dependent on your experience in that particular field, education or not.
although my education is to a relatively high level, but by a long way not in computer science (apart from that msc i guess)
so aye ok, possibly having some abbreviations to your name may have an influence on what kind of jobs you are likely to get.
take heed, developing and releasing a game will not earn you significant hard cash unless the world becomes obsessed with it, have a backup…
phonic art, Rob Gawthrop, look it up…
edit;
and dont get too specialized, even explaining what it is you can do is almost impossible.