This will prob make me sound like a noob but what is the advice? lol I guess I kinda am anyway lol.
Step 1. Learn how to program. The Java Tutorials can partly help with that. (See
http://java.sun.com/docs)
Step 2. Learn how to read the JavaDocs. If you think something is impossible, you're not looking hard enough.
Step 3. Learn everything there is to know about your computer. Learn how the monitor signal is generated. Learn what PCM data is. Learn how to translate 3D coordinates into 2D projections. Learn what the difference is between Parallel and Orthogonal projection. Read lots of papers and tutorials. Ancillary topics like compression, ray tracing, networking, etc. are all Good To Know(TM). The more you know, the more impressive you can make your games.
Step 4. Pick up a fat book on computer gaming. Tricks of the Game Programming Gurus was always my favorite, but you'd have to get it used. A good book on gaming will help you harness what you learned in Step 3 by teaching you how game programmers have applied it in the past.
Step 5. Work for game company and make mucho dinero.
Somewhere around Step 3 you can start programming games, but you'll have to start small. Don't expect to write Quake on your first night out. Think Tron or Space Invaders. Between steps 3 and 5, the info you want should just hit you like a ton of bricks. By step 5 you should be hitting the 4K competition like you own the place.

And there you go. Standard advice for newless cluebies. Does it apply to you? That's for you to decide...