Hi,

I'm an artist, and I have lots of ideas for my game but I want to start simple. It is going to be like Pokemon in gameplay, but not a clone of it. Some things I want to have to start:

1. An interface/menu

2. A tile-based environment

3. Your character (that can explore the environment)

4. Battle abilities (Example: Fireball (magic damage), -15 hp, costs 6 stamina)

5. Battle stats (Example: Speed, health, physical strength, magical damage)

It can be multiplayer, single player, mobile, or pc-based.

I have never made a game before. I don't know where to start making this idea, I've tried and read about many different programs and tutorials but none of them really helped.

I need to know which program I should start making this in, or what language I should use? The game is going to be really complicated and different than other games in the end, so I should pick a versatile language or program.

Thank you.

I have seen pokemon knock-offs or the sort made any number of ways.
From an html game with a little Javascript driving things, to PC-exclusive 3D environment versions made in Unity, Unreal, and/or Torque.

Where you want the game to end up has some say, but it really depends on how much Time you have to invest in learning enough to put it all together, and how much you might already know.

Easiest option, no skill, no intent to learn much more..
Pick up Atomic (in the shop here), Torque2D with the builder, or GameMaker Studio and follow a couple of tutorials. Then you just need to draw all of the little poke-critters to fill the world with and define some rules.

Be careful, creating pixel art the quality of Pokemon will be hard :P

Especially for a newbie. I learned this first-hand, pixel art is not easy.

Game Maker is free (until you want to advanced publishing features) and simplistic for 2D games. Pokemon isn't isometric, but tile-based. In either case, GM can do tile based (very easily) and isometric (there's a tutorial, I believe).

You could try LÖVE.

https://love2d.org/

It is extermly easy and will suit your needs.

It does take a small amount of scripting, as I said, it is easy to understand and use.

Good luck!