In 1982, I started writing code for PowerPlay magazine, devoted to the Commodore 64 (remember that?). They would publish source code that the reader would have to RETYPE in order to have the program run! Man, those were the days. I was just happy to be able to write code and get paid for it, and the magazine was happy to get some quality game submissions. I never did tell them that I was only 12 years old. :-)
I probably should have continued writing games, but I moved on to more 'serious' endeavors. I still love looking at games from a developer perspective and love to see all of the really fantastic work coming out of that part of the field!