Thanks.

Advice number two: Bookmark www.codeproject.com and ( to a lesser degree ) www.codeguru.com. If you want to write games, bookmark www.flipcode.com, although that community is a little more closed to newbies, IMHO.

Advice number three: If you want to program Windows, then learn C++ before learning C++ under Windows. Same goes for games/anything graphical ( which by definition is platform specific ). You need to program to the console first, because you need to walk before you run, crawl before you walk.

Advice number four: Buy some good books. If you're starting out, Teach yourself C++ in 24 hours followed by Teach Yourself Visual C++ in 24 hours ( I'm assuming Windows with the second book ) is a great place to start. There's plenty of people online who, like me, will be more than happy to answer any question you have, but you should first get some resources, try to work stuff out, and then ask. Otherwise you are spoonfed, and not learning. Other good books that don't cost a lot include "Practical C++", an excellent beginner book and reference, and once you get fired up, you'll need to own Stroustrup 'the C++ programming language'.

Advice number five: Have fun. ;0)

I'd say it really depends on your goals. If you're looking to just be a hobbyist, C may be too much for you to start with. You might consider Visual Basic too. It's simpler than C to get started with according to most (though I thought C was pretty easy to learn...so it may just be a preference). Another option is to start with HTML and just learn how to build websites.

If you wanna make good-old classic games likes Defender, Asteroids, etc...get into Blitz Basic...it makes things like this easier and there are a lot of growing resources for newbies.

If, however, you're looking to get into development as a career path then do like MeanMan says

Bottom line is to help you better focus where to start, we'd need a clearer picture of where you wanna end up

Best of luck!

-Krylar

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Just one more thing, if you wish to program 3d games without having to learn C etc, go for DarkBasic. That is the one I use - and the "Dark" in DarkBasic does not mean "evil". They used its name because it is the "Dark-horse". A programming language which upsets the traditional 3D programmers because it makes it cheap and accesible to everyone.

But if you are serious about programming, follow MMIO's advice.

Revelator!

thanks guys!

Happy programming