If you have never done any programming whatsoever, you should probably start with html. Get a basic website done first, and make sure you really know html. Then move to either &#106avascript and DHTML or flash. It's pretty easy to make decent looking browser games in &#106avascript + DHTML (by pretty easy, I mean relative to something like C++).<br><br>It will still require a lot of time and dedication to learn enough about programming to even begin writing games, but you will find that it is a fun hobby &#111;nce you get to that point.<br><br>Good luck!

Uhmm... before making any sort of suggestions, I think it'd help if you define what you meant by online game? Do you mean a browser based game, a MMORPG like World of Warcard, or a simpler (networking-wise) online capable game like Quake or Unreal?

Since you mentioned that you "never programmed anything" I assume that you want to "program" your game. In this case, you need to start right from the beginning and go from "Hello World" to displaying graphics and further to networking.

Start by picking a programming language that you know you can use in games. Do a survey and make your pick then stick with it until you've learned how to program. Learn the basics and intermediate stuff then try to write your first trivial game. Something like tic-tac-toe or connect four. By the time you do this you will have a sense of what it involves to make a game and how to step up to building something online.

Another alternative to programming a game, is just building it. Look into game development IDEs like DarkBASIC and Multimedia Fusion or game engines like Torque. This will take you less time to have a game up and running but usually at the cost of losing some control over what you are building. Nonetheless, even this path will allow you to learn a lot about the process of building a game.

Good luck.