I hate to bring it up again, but have you considered trying to learn basic programming techniques in a simpler language like Python, Ruby or Scheme first before digging into C++? While it's true that you couldn't jump straight into game design from those, as a practical matter you couldn't in C++ either - you need to learn a substantial part of the base language and the common idioms first. Also, there do exist graphics libraries, even gaming oriented ones, for both Scheme and Python.
You can get a Python interpreter, and the Python CGKit and SOYA graphics libraries, at
http://www.python.org/, along with several good tutorials on the language that could get you up to speed in a few days. Similiarly, you can find links to several Scheme interpreters, graphics libraries and tutorials at
http://www.schemers.org/; also, some interpreters and compilers, such as
Dr. Scheme (which has the best IDE for novices that I've ever seen) have their own graphics packages as well. If your goal is to learn game programming, you might be better off trying these first, and then learning C++ when you have a better grasp of programming in general - though frankly, you may not want to after seeing what the other languages can do.
Note that IMAO, VB does not count as an easier language than C++; it's starts off seeming so, but it really isn't. VB.NET is an improvement in some ways, but worse in others.
Another piece of advice, which I've mentioned before: after learning Python or Scheme (or Ruby, or FORTH, or Smalltalk, or whatever), you may want to pick up a little x86 assembly knowledge before learning C++. It would help understand a lot of how many critical ideas in C++, such as pointers, really work. HTH.