Did you know that there are tons of free game-making programs available? If you're having trouble getting started, definitely try one of these programs. Each of these have rich communities with lots of tutorials to help beginners.

FREE GAME ENGINES!
(Feel free to add more!)

Ren'Py - the visual novel engine
http://www.renpy.org/

Adventure Game Studio - the point-and-click game engine
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/

001 - the free graphical-scripting game-making engine
http://www.engine001.com/

Unity - 3D professional game engine
https://unity3d.com/

Stencyl
http://www.stencyl.com/
stencyl.com
Stencyl: Make iPhone, iPad, Android & Flash Games without code
Make iOS (iPhone/iPad), Android, Flash, Windows & Mac games without code using Stencyl.

Twine - interactive fiction engine
http://twinery.org/

Quest - the text-adventure and interactive fiction engine
http://textadventures.co.uk/quest

Inform - interactive fiction engine
http://inform7.com/

ASEPRITE - /eɪs-praɪt/ — animated sprite editor & pixel art tool
http://www.aseprite.org/

More game engines like RPG Maker:
http://alternativeto.net/software/rpg-maker/