Of course Farty... If you have C++ (or w/e) programming skill why should it matter how you learned it? It also shows that you're probably capable of learning new stuff since you already taught yourself C++.
Your future boss will be happy to hear that you already have practice in these fields and can judge your way of working through them (to a point). Having practice is your best chance to get invited to a job interview.

Completely on an aside to this topic - would you guys think it relevant to include a comprehensive list of all computer games that you have played / modded over the years in a CV? I mean, it might give you a little bit of an edge, specifically if the job you were applying for was something creative or design orientated... the more games you have played, the more you are likely to know about what makes games work etc...

Playing games, no. Modding games, maybe, if what you did can somehow be applied to your future job.

Certainly there's no connection between creativity and playing computer games. At least not in the mind of your boss. Probably it'd even be pretty negative if he sees you "wasted" all your time for computer games.
If you wanna become a game tester though, then go ahead.

Thanks to Starcraft I learned what the internet was...and then /b/.

Now look at me

Quote from Riney

Thanks to Starcraft I learned what the internet was...and then /b/.

Now look at me

Riney: “You must have chaos within you to give birth to a dancing star.”

Lingie: “If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”

Pick your ...heh... poison.