Quote Originally Posted by technomage
If you are just starting out in game programming and you want to do a simple game to get started, a space shooter is probably one of the best hence why we have so many.
Learning is good but my opinion stands. Using pixel shaders and latest video card features - doesn't look like a "learning project" to me. Also, some of the similar projects I mentioned are even commercial.

Besides there are plenty of "easy" games than can be made in learning process like logic games, puzzles and arcade-style games (heck, a simple Asteroids has pretty much the same complexity). Do you have to learn "to be creative" too?