   Game Dev Start to finish
  Case 1:At the moment, any new person that wants to make a game looks up "game development" or the like in google, and sees gamedev.net. They click on it. Then, they start to navigate the site, and will probably come across many articles and other things they dont need, and will probably come to this page: http://www.gamedev.net/reference/start_here/apart from being very outdated, this page is not very helpful at all, and the poor soul gets all confused. They need assistance.Case 2:Someone finds this site, and finds its real information source, the forum. Here they ask the question: what language do I learn? (everyone does) and get bombarded with calls of "Python is very easy to learn, and rapid development...", "C# will conquer the consoles, and eventually the world" and "C++ FTW!", among others. They eventually choose something, and try to learn it, either by a book or not.Case 3:Someone learns a programming language, and says "What do I do now?". People suggest things, and gives links to various sources. The person, after a little while's hesitation, chooses something, and tries cto persue something.If all these people happen to learn something, they still want to know more. And the stuff they learn may not be what they want. Finally, the point of this post, gamedev holds the spot at the top of google's search results for "game development", but a newcomer mght be quite put off. What gamedef needs is a series of articles, start to finish, of how to make a game. Now, if some article or tutorial, somewhere, would help, sure, link it, or include it (with author's permission, of cause ;) but I believe a series of articles that back each other up, expand on each other, etc. should exist, in one simple location. The supreme power of the forum exists for any questions, but some resource (possibly edited by the gamedev community, rather than one person) should exist that will take you from beginning (in the console) to end (3D). Seems common sense, that's all.   
  I think it's simply too great of an undertaking, and besides it would only describe one way of creating a game.Where do you start? At the very beginning, or do you assume the person knows C++ or maybe they just know some scripting language?The people who it targets don't really benefit because they can't expand upon the article, unless they already knew what they were doing. It simply takes too long to get into, to cover a game in one breath.However, there is that tetris post for beginners. Also the Enginuity series comes to mind.I read that you suggested a community undertaking, which is suited to a wiki format. Maybe you have heard of the Game Programming Wiki? I recommend you check it out and contribute your own articles if you're interested.   ;  that is a problem, it would only explain one way of doing something.The very beginning is the idea, and maybe take them to the end of 2D. But it wouldn't be one article, a series of articles could each cover specific topics.Now that i think about it further, what is needed is an explanation of the different types of games, languages suited to each, and a process for completing each, with links to tutorials and/or books. eg:To make simple 2D RPG:FIrst start with making a simple tetris/pong/noughts and crosses/etc. Make this in  X/Y/Z language, first the console is your best bet:-Link to comparison of languagesFor learning X:-site 1-site 2-site 3-etc-book 1-book 2-etcFor learning Y:-site 1-etc-book 1-etcFor learning Z:-site 1-etc-book 1-etcNow you'll need to know how to manage game states:-site 1-etc-book 1-etcFor 2D you have these options:A, B, C.-comparisonfor learning...In other words, a tried and tested process in which someone may learn to make a simple game.   ;  These articles have some similar ideas as you, I believe.Beginner FAQPicking a LanguageHow do I get started?