My first step

[Cranyx]

I'll start by saying that my goal is to one day working in game programming/design for a reputable company, and while it may sound like any other one of the dozens of people who say that on this site, that's not what I'm here to ask about.

I'm 16 and entering my Junior year of high school, I do very well academically, getting mostly "A"s in a nationally ranked school and take AP classes in Physics, Calc, among others. I've taken classes on VB programming ad have a general (and improving) understanding of C++. I've been told the best place to start in the gaming industry is trying my hand at some modding, but I'm not sure where to start.

I've visited a couple of sites, but they seem to assume I have knowledge that I don't. I've talked with a few friends who mod, but they say it's hard to explain without being there. Where should I start, having never touched upon the subject?

On the flip-side, am I wrong to assume that modding is the best place to start, if not what is?

 

[Zantos]

Modding is a pretty good place to start, but is pretty hard to get into.

I'd say start off making simple games with something like Game Maker (http://www.yoyogames.com/gamemaker/windows). It's simple, it's fun, and at the very least you'll get to know some of the lingo. That knowledge the sites assume you have is probably just something you already know but give it different names.