I've always used Python and Pygame to make simple 2d games, and the tutorial I used to learn was from [url=http://inventwithpython.com/]Invent with Python[/url]. There are two free Ebooks there, Invent your own Computer Games with Python, which is geared more towards complete beginners, and the second one, Making Games with Python and Pygame, is more for people who have done programming in the past but might be new to Python and Pygame.