Help with beggining to build a game

[RayCharles!]

Hi, newbie reporting in.

I need some help, to begin understanding the "creating a game process". I tried the Valve wiki, but it's jsut too confusing, and isn't much help to real begginers like me, so I thought this forum would be a nice place to ask for help. Since I lack organization and order in a speech I'll just drop questions, in which I need help.

First of all, I DO NOT INTEND TO SELL A GAME OR MAKE MONEY OUT OF IT, this is just for educational purposes and the beggining of a big journey.

Regarding me, I want to be the code programmer, the weapon scripter etc etc, and I think that envolves every aspect of the game besides making the models, maps, and sounds for the game itself. Correct me if i'm wrong. For what I have researched the only language I need to learn is C++.
Will learning this language C++, teach me how everything connects, ie: when a weapon fires, writing a code that acceeses the sound file to play ingame, etc?

I intend to use the source engine, but I'm a bit confused about the mod terminology and such. Is TF2, CS:S and others a mod of the source engine? With this I mean, on the Source SDK, is the create a mod option (in which there are 4 other options), the beggining of my project? If I want to create a game from scratch, do I use this option, or where do I go?

I'm so confused I don't even know which questions to ask. The main thing is, where can I learn to build a game? Is there any book, or website w/e explaining the process, how things work, how everything meshes together, explaining what dll's are, and what they do.....

There is so much to ask....So, where do I begin? Learning C++ language? If so, what will I learn from it, relating to the projects I wish to do with the source engine? Will I understand how source engine, and the proejcts created from it, if I learn C++? Because I think not, since it's just a language....Also, with the research I've done, I saw the use of Visual C++ Express, I think it's a compiler. I saw that game builders use it to compile their games (correct me if I'm wrong, again ).

Where do I learn all this stuff? ^^

I'm not yet an university student, but I wish to begin now.

Thanks in advance! TF2 hats or something if you become a big help!