In making games? No way. Don't have the skill set anyway.
But you also mention writing about games, and that's what I've been doing for the past 20 years. First some voluntary stuff when I was 15/16, then my own site, then full-time for one the biggest publishings in the Netherlands. Made it to editor in chief and all. Did that for ten years, but it slowly drained the joy out of my passion and hobby. Not anyone's fault though, ten years in an office talking to editors and publishers wears you down eventually.
I've been freelancing for two years now and its perfect for me. I can focus on what I love again (writing), play the games I want to play, write about what I want to write. Sure, you have to have determination, a good network and of course the skill to write (fairly) well, but if you have all those things and enjoy it, its great. Wouldn't want to do anything else. I write about other stuff too, but games is my main bread and butter. Works out for me just fine.
But I would def. advise people to take the road I have taken, as in first try to get a fulltime gig to build up a good network and then go freelance. Becoming a freelance journalist that makes enough money is hard as it is, let alone in an industry as niche as the game-industry. Wouldn't recommend it to someone looking to make a living, I just had the luck (and work ethic) to make it work somehow.