I am not sure what your prior programming experience is. If you wish to get up to speed quickly, I would recommend Python. Others have recommended PyGame, which is the defacto standard for Python. There are other alternatives (like a modified version of the Verge engine called Ika that is under slow development, http://ika.sourceforge.net/news.php) but PyGame is very solid.
Since you asked about a resource to get started, I would recommend Invent with Python (http://inventwithpython.com/chapters/). It uses Python 3 and PyGame, and starts real basic. In the next month or so you will be able to buy the book if you so desire (the author mentioned to me that a publisher took an earlier version of the book and made a very poor paper version -- so if you see that on Amazon, avoid it!).
