Graphics questions

Hey guys, I'm sure you get hundreds of posts like this all the time, but I could use some advice before I try learning to make video games.


1) I'm trying to pick between OpenGL and DirectX. Anything that might sway my decision one way or the other?

2)If I pick OpenGL, should I use GLSL or Nvidia CG? Which yields better results graphics wise? Which has more cross-platform capability? Which is easier?

3) If I pick OpenGL, do I learn OpenGL ES or just straight OpenGL? To be honest, my interests are more towards developing for consoles and handheld consoles rather than for PC. Do I need to learn OpenGL before OpenGL ES? How similar are they?

4) How long would you say it takes to fully learn OpenGL or DirectX? I mean really know either of them and be able to create quality work. What about HLSL, GLSL, or CG?

(Note, I'm a very very inexperienced programmer. Like a beginner, really. I've had a year with C++ and that's about it. I'm just trying to figure this out before I spend time learning something potentially useless.)

>>13
There'll probably be "fixed function" libraries.

Nintendo is still doing fixed-function pipelines on the 3ds, because it's more efficient and easier to develop for than general shaders.

I'm kind of surprised there hasn't been fixed function library called like OpenFFL, or open fixed function library.

With AMD getting better OpenCL support a prefab shader library should be inevitable.