I am glad you here asking for help. I hate to say it, but in before someone else says it. The FAQ associated with this forum can answer some of those questions right off the bat.

Now onto languages. Your programming languages that you choose now, will never affect what you choose later. Albeit some languages favor others, a good programmer knows many languages. In your case you are wanting to do 2D top down with some 3D. I would highly reccomend that you explore a little on the python side first being a new programmer.

http://diveintopython.org/

This is the series I used to learn python. I honestly couldn't get a grasp on python, but that is mainly because it argues with everything I know about Ruby. If your going to work with a game creator, and they use scripting languages you might get thrown some words. Heres some break downs for you!

Lite-C = C application that comes from A7/8 game engine (Atari game product)
LUA - http://lua.org - is used in many many games as a scripting language. Its very powerful as a scripting language
C++ - http://www.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/sv_videonav.php?fid=d1434abf441133049c1f616771e32dfb this web series is free for the starter kit. If you get ahold of it, consider buy it.
C#/XNA/.NET - http://www.3dbuzz.com/vbforum/sv_videonav.php?fid=8921f96ddec49a357999b164ee0918b7 another series

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I would reccomend that you learn another smaller language that is easier to grasp before learning C++. Although some have no problems and can stomach it, others just get smoked in the face with way to much and just drain dump the basic fundimentals. make pong. update pong. make pong faster. make poing with less code. make pong overly complicated while cycling images and having random things happen on screen without a fps hit. Things like that will sharpen your skill in programming.

Don't walk away from it. You will not get it your first shot. Don't ever let someone lie to you saying they have never been stumped for x hours or days. Programming is an epiphony moment. Some days you just don't get why its not working, you have viewed every angle. Then your out on the street and someone spits gum and suddenly your brain thinks how to thread something to prevent it from crashing. No idea why, but your brain will just randomly come up with the solution. Just practice practice practice. If you still don't believe me, then why do game companies create patches? Cause it can never be perfect.

Python is going to be your best bet for learning programming fundies. Its fun, interactive and you can basically see results within an hour of learning. Remember that when you buy these giant books on how to learn a language they are old print. Its easier to use them as a reference than it is to use as a training guide in my honest opinion.

Good luck :-).

-Mayple