Thanks for the reply I appreciate it a lot.

I will be going for CryEngine, I read you could extend Unity to use C++ as well but I would suspect there will arise problems when doing this.
Okay I just start with the logic, UI and graphics till I have something that you can run around and move on from there.
I'm going to make an ACTION / ADVENTURE game. So it will need physics and AI.

Would it be better to use Visual C++ or could I just use NetBeans?

Enthusiastic is the least of my problems, the girlfriend wants to kill me for coding and drawing all the time hahaha...

Hey I was wonder if you could shed some light for me on a few subjects. I'm studying CS, half way through my second year. I have done a few very small games with design patterns in C++ and java's 2DGraphics and FX, but I wanted to start working on a new gen game (Action eg. Dante's,Castlevania). I can farily flowent in C++, Java and a few other more in relation to web design, I have a good understanding of linear algebra, calculus, discrete structures and physics. I also play around in maya, 3ds max and motion builder for fun.

Now I have read your link and a few other form, but they only give you option on things you could possibly try. So here are a few questions being this is my firt time attempting something as big:
1) I was looking at Unity3D and CryEngin, but I don't know which one would be beter suited for my game? I would prefer to stick to C++ for a challenge.

2) Would it be beter to start with the coding or graphic? I would prefer to start which graphics allowing me to learn a bit more in programming (you can never learn enough).

3) If I would attempt both at the same time which is realistic, on which part of the coding should I start (I know its a dumb question begin it would be the game logic and pattern structure, but after that AI, UI, physics)?

4) Should I start learning DirectX as well (We are only covering it next year in my course)?

5) What other advice do you have?

I'm not expecting this to be easy nether to be a over night job, I only aiming to have something up, running and presentable in the next three years. This is only to test my skills and if I able to work with every aspect of a game and make it work together. I'm really enthusiastic about game development and game design.
Any help or direction would be appreciated.