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[gildedgirth]

You could also try ActionScript 2.0, the scripting language for Flash MX 2004. You'd be able to create and import graphics and even animate them quickly using the FLash tools and then you can use ActionScript to do all the programming logic.

It's a full on OOP (Object Oriented) language, supporting private and public classes etc and once you get a handle on it, it would be fairly easy for you to move to C++ or Java if you wished too. The other bonus in learning ActionScript 2.0 and Flash is that you can make some side money making Flash websites as well so your skills would be easier to market since you can apply it to the web as well as game making.