Heh, My skills? I mostly have skills in graphics really. My dads a super computer geek, so he'll probably be handy.
I don't want any game like.. let's say, online tetris. A multiplayer game where you can get millions of registered people :D - I do have Java, and everything else i might need. A site where you can chat and stuff, and also customize rooms, get points and buy things [Points from the game]I'd say first learn to use the tools... and deeply. If all you know how to do is make graphics, then at this moment you can only be part of a team of making a game- the graphics designer.
If you want to make those little addicting games that you see all over the net that people play for hours on end, but then once they close the browser and are done forever- thats usually Macromedia Flash.... sometimes Java.
If you want to make World of Wacraft- start now... you might be ready by the time you're 25-30 to even think of helping in production of that.
If you want to do those web based games thats all text (slavehack, cybernations, etc) and turn based, learn PHP/SQL or some other scripting language.
If you want to make real time text based games (like MUDS), then learn C/C++ and make an RPG. We all have done it. Theyre very complex when you play them, but rather simple to make.
If you want to make it so that RPG you made has graphics, learn Object Orientated Programming so that when you make that RPG, you can easily put some graphics to it.
But if you want to get in the industry- best place to start: learn C/C++/C#/Java... any of them. Preferably C/C++ (essentially the same language)... and if you're having trouble learning OOP, learn Java- it really brings it down to earth.
Bloodshed Dev C++ is a rather clean/simple/straightforward compiler/editor in one. Its free, too.
Anyway, stick to the beginner forum, and beginner programming forums, and learn to program first. Don't jump right into a specific field of programming. I've been programming for 11 years, and I'm still "dumb" in this industry. It takes LOTS of time to master your work and become good at it. LOTS of headaches, all nighters, loss of friends, etc. You need to be very dedicated to learn programming and be good at it. You need to eat/sleep/dream code all the way till your in your early 20s if you want to land a job anywhere with Microsoft, EA, or other big software guys.
Don't let this discourage you. I haven't been too insane with coding, but i do alot of it for hobby. I started in BASIC, then went to C. My first "game" in basic was a guessing game. My first "game" in C was, also. After bout a year in C, I started on a very basic RPG. A few years later, I went onto a much more advanced version of that text based....then went onto make it more "advanced". I haven't touched it in a while, but I just started cleaning it up lately and I plan on applying a GUI to it finally.
have fun!