I am 19 years old. I have set out to finish my quest for 3d game so It can be on my portfolio as a completed project. I want to make games and or program for a living.

I am not afriad to learn or intimidated by complexity. MY question is what is the best way to get in the programming field? What language should I learn?

I dont want a 4 year college, I dont want to have to learn english science history again for like 2 years before I even learn my major.

I would like to just take special credited classes to teach me exclusively what I will be doing in my programming field.

I really want to act soon. I wouldnt mind learning c++ as I read it is much faster and more encompassing than vb. But again should I learn the .NET c or the older? Is .NET the future? Should I even hold off and wait for all this new technology to come out at the end of the year.

I dont know what the best thing would be to do. All I know is I love making video games, I a fast learner, and a proficient programmer. When version 2 comes out, you can see that is only 4 months of directx and 5 in vb6, didnt know anything before then. And all this is done in my spare time between 55 hours of other secular and religious obligations.

So any comment appreciated...