C++ is useful for games. Java is also useful (although many people seem passionately opposed to it; I think their passion is misdirected.) PHP might be a good idea, especially if you\'re into web stuff.
The trick is to set small, simple goals, for instance, little text-based games or programs that demonstrate concepts as you learn them (linked lists, etc.)
It\'s also a good idea to take advice from more experienced people, even if it seems to slow you down and waste a lot of lines of code. In the end, good clean code is what people want, and it will help you understand why large projects work the way they do.
Planeshift and Crystalspace are both large and complex, but can be fun. If you don\'t mind a little math, you can play around with OpenGL (a \"library\" of code that allows you to make 3D graphics) once you have some C experience, or start building webpages using Javascript, PHP and whatever.
Soooo much to learn.... so little time.