[danso]

Pure programming skill, however you imagine that being measured, is a very small part of building and designing a successful game and game world.

Do you honestly believe that anyone more skilled at PHP than Mark Zuckerberg had been as a Harvard freshman is on the cusp of building the next Facebook-killer?

[diss]

No, Mark Zuckerberg was a nobody too. Having clout helps things along considerably when it comes to marketing and acquiring non-nobodies, but being a nobody is neither here nor there when it comes to potential. Replace "programmer" with whatever skills you think are most relevant.