I started by making a small test level just something simple and then I coded movement(thank you KH movement tutorail) and animation. At first I'd cut and paste a lot of other peoples code just to get something running.This really was a bad idea I didn't start learning for real till people started being hard and making me work over the code a few times. Now a days I like to stat a project by writng a design document. It doesn't have to be a 100 pages but just put your ideas on paper and read a little on how to make a design doc. after that I code the start up screen and the main menu minus the load save stuff I still can't figure out. I recommand reading as many tutorials as posible and just have fun making things. don't try to make a game right off just see if you can get a player model to run around a simple level and be animated. OH yeah don't forget to learn how to use the camera, it doesn't do any good to have a moving player model if the camera doesn't fallow them.

anyway thats my 2 cents
Malice