I've been building up to this, I basically want to write some text-based games and then later on graphical games, and some utilitys, I want to learn C or C++, and I've been reading through google for tutorials and what not, but I have no idea where to begin, I mean, I have limited past programming expierence, I know the basics of Pascal so far, but other than that no programming knowledge what-so-ever, what I'd like is just an idea of where to start and how, like what compiler to use, what tutorial, what I should learn first, and so on, I know I can't read a game making tutorial before I know anything about the language, but at the same time I find it kind of boring when its in the basic parts of the tutorials, I've stumbled across BloodShed's C/C++ IDE/Compiler, I used BloodShed's Pascal IDE/Compiler, but I never really got anywhere with Pascal, I want to actually go somewhere with C/C++ I just have no idea where to start, its very over-whelming when you search google and there are so many pages, each teaching the language 1000 different ways, and all the different compilers, and IDE's, I don't have much resources to actually buy a book for it, or I would (Which I may do here in a week or two) - So, where would I start, would I start with a beginners tutorial, and learn as much as possible about the language, and then move on to more advanced stuff, or what? I'd like to learn Windows Programming, with a GUI/Interface, but I know first I'd have to start out with console programs, right?

If you are new to programming, you might be well off to find one or more "Programmning Concepts" tutorials before worrying about a specific language. A large part of programming is know the concepts. A small part is knowing the syntax of a particular language.

It's kind of like driving a car. You can learn a lot about driving without ever getting in a car. Then in the first car, you learn to apply the concepts that you've learned. Then taking that experience and concepts, it's easy to learn to drive the next car or truck or motorcycle (?).

I think that one reason people that are self-teaching via tutorials get lost and give up so easily is that the tutorials are teaching syntax not programming concepts. The programming concepts are almost more important than the syntax.

I did a google search on "programming concepts tutorial" and one returned was:

http://cisnet.baruch.cuny.edu/holowczak/classes/programming/

It looked liked a good place to start.

Later, google for "C++ tutorial" and pick one of those. Don't get 'daunted' that there are thousands, just pick one and go. No matter which one you pick, you won't learn everything there is to know anyway. Repeating the same one multiple times or going on to other ones will still teach you something.

When I googled for "C++ tutorial", the first return was:

http://www.cplusplus.com/doc/tutorial/

That looked good to me. It said that all of it's programs are console programs. That's all you need to get started.

Be sure to come back and let us know if our suggestions helped!

Yea, I 2nd every statement Don makes.
Listen to him :) hes helped me many many times before.

YOU DA MAN DON!!!!!!

GIMPS

I would use Bloodshed's C/C++ IDE its the best FREE ont out there. You could also try sharpDevelop a free .NET ide i dont know if it supports Visual C++ right now, but it will. :)
Good luck programming!

There he goes. One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die