Alright, I can answer most of these questions:
keenbean said:
The question is what should I do now? I want to continue programming, I would love to get a job as a game programmer.
Then continue programming. Even without a job in it and if you choose to pursue a career in science, programming can be very helpful in that field and is a wonderfully enjoyable hobby.
keenbean said:
Should I A) Work on my programming and try to make a few demos and apply for a gaming job...
I would suggest making a few games from beginning to end. Seriously, go and try it out, you'll need to prove to prospective employers your commitment to performing the task and that you have follow-through. It's very important that you have experience making a game, even if it isn't a game that sold, was done commercially, or even is relatively simple. However, a reasonable amount of imagination and complexity should shine through, it shows your problem-solving skills. As such, a chess game may be insufficient (but it couldn't hurt), however a risk-like game may be much more preferable.
keenbean said:
...B) Get a degree in computer science or something? (After researching I read degrees don't matter as much as skill in the game industry)
In general with most fields or professions, degrees are not as important as job experience, but degrees are a very important enabler and make it so people take you more seriously as an employable person. I would suggest doing both A AND B to get into the games industry, if at all possible. However you can be rather lenient with that degree, the best would be a degree specifically in game design, but having a computer science degree is almost equally good and even a degree in mathematics can be powerful.
keenbean said:
Is working in the game industry all that its lead to be?
I don't know the impression you've gotten about working in games, so I can't answer that question fully. Jumping to a conclusion about the impression you may have gotten, I'll be frank. No, it's not just playing games, in fact most of the game testing will be sent specifically to game testers. Also, it can be incredibly stressful, when you need to get a shippable product done in a couple of months and the project is inevitably lagging. A lot of work will go into a game with little feeling of reward, especially at the beginning. However, the end result is what people are after, and when you've completed a fully functioning game, there's very few feelings that can compare. That is why many in the industry wouldn't do anything else, or at least what they say.
keenbean said:
As for the C++ and gaming what should I be focusing on? Just learning the C++ or is there something that is more towards gaming in C++.
Learning about the principles of programming and game theory is more important than learning C++. C++ is just a language, and games can be made with most available languages. For example Python comes with a few wonderful game libraries, like PyGame or Panda3D. Java can do well for game making, using it's built-in 2D functionality. Another good choice is just plain C, though if you wanted to go that route I'd suggest a preference toward C++. I hear the .NET languages can do rather well making games. There are a plethora of language choices available to you, but knowing just how to
program, and knowing how games are supposed to function, are the most important.
I hoped I could help.
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