I need help in starting on 2D game programming. I consider myself to be an intermediate programmer with roughly 3 years (not in school years; I mean allocated over classes, internships, and self-taught projects) of programming experience with the C family of languages (excluding Objective-C), JavaScript, and just recently Java and HTML5.

I've never done any game programming. Closest thing to it is some graphics exercises in a textbook, but I want to start now that I have a free summer. What I want to know is what is my next step?

I did some research (googling considered research?) and stumbled on this site so I decided to post. If I am not mistaken a good place to start with 2D programming would be Flash (and HTML5?), pygame, and SFML?

Ultimately, I want to program a game in a similar form to a 16-bit era 2D sidescroller but with updated graphics like Braid or Rayman Origins and then move over to a 3D sidescroller like New Super Mario Bros. or Trine with a full team. What would be a great starting point for this? I don't mind if I have to start very basic, like actually programming a 16-bit game or a simple 1 to 2 level pseudogame. I am comfortable (mentally/psychologically but of course not physicaly) coding/debugging for prolonged hours of time with a textbook on my desk. So the preferred method of learning would be a textbook and practice.

I am a bit short on cash so any open source/free/reduced education pricing software to aid in programming the game would be grealty appreciated. Hardware is of no concern at this stage since I am just looking to code for mac/windows computers (eventually iOS [Though I would need to learn Objective-C first] and consoles maybe).

So where do I start?

If you are already familiar with the C family I would jump right into Opengl with C++ or C#. others will give you potentially different advice and it could be valid but this is what i would recomend. any ways good luck

Honestly, I wouldn't get into OpenGL to begin with. Start with a simple API, like SFML for C++. It does everything you want in terms of 2D graphics, and it provides most of the other tools needed to make a game: Input, Audio, Windows, Networking, and Graphics.

Good Luck

These are two conflicting suggestions but I like the potential for growth greenzone mentioned taking his method. This is however subjective to what is written among these posts and I still have my own research to do before I chose a formidable option. So I'll take a look at both before deciding which route to commit to. Thanks.

Start by doing. start wit smaller games, like Pong, Tetris, Breakout etc.

I always take the basics to be fundamentally important to every skill. Thanks.

I would like to add SDL with C++ to the list. There's plenty of game development related tutorials out there, and I've found it very intuitive and easy to use, yet powerful.

One thing to note is both SDL and SFML have the ability to let you use OpenGL, so you dont need to give up on OpenGL if you go SFML or SDL, and as SFML and SDL are both 2D focused and allow for relatively easy access to all you will need to make 2D games they mesh up nicely with your stated goals.

"Ultimately, I want to program a game in a similar form to a 16-bit era 2D sidescroller but with updated graphics like Braid or Rayman Origins and then move over to a 3D sidescroller like New Super Mario Bros. or Trine with a full team"

C# isn't a brilliant beginners language though. VB.net is very similar syntax but much easier. Jumping in at the deep end with game programming with no prior programming experience will probably just make you want to quit.
It doesn't work with mac or linux unforuneately but theres other frameworks that are cross platform but not as easy to deal with as xna.

I forgot to mention it but VB was the language I was first introduced to and yes it was fairly easy. I also have some experience with C# but I did not want to go the XNA route because of what you mentioned. Thank you for the advice nonetheless.

I would like to add SDL with C++ to the list. There's plenty of game development related tutorials out there, and I've found it very intuitive and easy to use, yet powerful.

One thing to note is both SDL and SFML have the ability to let you use OpenGL, so you dont need to give up on OpenGL if you go SFML or SDL, and as SFML and SDL are both 2D focused and allow for relatively easy access to all you will need to make 2D games they mesh up nicely with your stated goals.

"Ultimately, I want to program a game in a similar form to a 16-bit era 2D sidescroller but with updated graphics like Braid or Rayman Origins and then move over to a 3D sidescroller like New Super Mario Bros. or Trine with a full team"

If that is the case then I'll most likely start with sfml/sdl (since I am most comfortable with C++) and when needed/wanted I'll look into OpenGL, but does anyone know any books I can buy to help? I know I can find countless tutorials but I would prefer a book if possible. Thank you all for the suggestions.

The only book I know of for SDL is Focus on SDL, but I cant vouch for how good it is.
I would suggest IF you go SDL , visit :

http://lazyfoo.net/index.php for good tutorials and tricks , plus articles.
http://www.sdltutorials.com/ for some more SDL based techniques

or for SFML you could try

http://www.gamefromscratch.com/

Both SDL and SFML have lots of online resources but I doubt you will find many books to read through on the subject.

Hope that helps some.