   am i going in way over my head?
  First off I do have some programming knowledge.I am a full time PHP programmer (and know a large amount about &#106avascript, HTML, CSS, etc), and I have created my own programs in Visual Basic as well.I am also experienced with Photoshop.First, I want to learn how to create a 3d model that can walk. I've started reading up on 3ds max and the bones and whatnot...my first model would be very simple...probably just a torso with legs.Next, I want to learn how to skin the model. Just apply some type of texture on the entire model.Then I want to learn how to actually make the model walk when pressing a key on the keyboard. I want to do this with C++. So the programs I want to start learning (pretty much at the same time) would be C++ and 3DS Max (since I already know quite a bit about Photoshop for creating the skins).My first goal would be, like I said, to make a model, give it bones, skin it, then make it walk using C++.Am I in over my head here? I don't really have any interest in spending hours creating a 2D game as I want to focus on creating a 3D game. I know this will take years to learn but I am willing to take my time so I can absorb as much as possible.Also, if you can point me in the right direction of where I can start for 3D game creation...i.e. tutorials. I know I might sound crazy, but I want to create the assets AND code it myself.   
  Well, you have a lot to learn. But as long as you take it one step at a time and don't try to do everything all at once, you won't be in over your head. Learning to model in 3D is a huge task; learning to animate a model realistically is another huge one. Learning to program in C++ is still big, but comparatively minor given that you already can work in an imperative programming language. Mostly you'll need to learn the details of memory management (which PHP doesn't bother you with) and sharpen your object-oriented programming skills. Personally I'd recommend getting started with Blender instead, just because 3DSMax costs $3500 and Blender is free. I've done enough work with Blender to be an okay amateur modeler and animator, though I'm nowhere near the professionals in terms of quality. That took a few years of off and on work. For modeling, I learned by doing, and by hanging out in #blender on irc.freenode.net. I'm sure there's tutorials out there, but I wouldn't know which are worth your time. For animation, I highly recommend The Animator's Survival Kit; it's a book that walks you through how to animate (it focuses on drawn animations, but almost everything transfers to 3D anyway).I also would recommend starting with a simple 2D game instead of a 3D one. Yes, you want to do 3D eventually, but the extra dimension makes things significantly more complicated. There are many aspects of game design that are the same in 2D as in 3D, and it'll help you to get those down before you start wrestling with the third dimension. Make Tetris. Make Super Mario Bros. You can even use the 3D models you've been working on (just render them to still frames and use those as your game assets). Once you have the basics of game design down, you can start working on adding that third dimension.   ;  Derakon has provided great advice.If you really want to jump straight into 3D it might be safer to use a 3D engine like Ogre 3D as you can have a 3D model rendered on-screen in a dozen lines or so. And it is an extremely powerful engine too.   ;  My advice is to start by learning how to make a program from scratch that can spin a textured 3D cube using OpenGL or DirectX. Once you have achieved this you will be able to (re-)evaluate your goal significantly better.(And don't bother too much with 3DS in the first place since importing meshes/models into your program and making them move is a rather advanced topic)   