You make it sound so easy....while i am actually following a bachelor degree in C#...

Check out Unity 3D, it has allot of stuff going for it for people that can't actually program.

getting an engine for free and jumping into the cold water is the worst way to start game development. you still need the knowledge about the language you willl use and there is alot of stuff you still have to take into account that you will never learn by starting with someone else engine.

the game also does not consist of coding only, you have to create artwork, sounds and modelling... I doubt that a regular mortal person with a job has enough time to pull off a game like dust.

And if you knew the engine you would know it has all sorts of packages to help along the way, like a visual scripting language that converts your code blocks to actual code.

I never said it was easy, i just said to check it out, it will still require work and effort to get something done and it will never reach the level of quality Dust has, doesnt mean he can't have "fun" with it.

I coded my first Character creator for my pen & paper RPG inside it, with full network & android tablet support, allot easier then just using Visual Studio and having to go from scratch.

I edited my post the moment you answered to be more clear :)

I got the main jist from it, but most people don't know these type of engines excist.

I just think that starting from scratch and making the framework for a 2D sideview game first (or maybe isometric 2.5D if you want although it might be too much for a beginner) to get the hang of the basics and then jump on the engine is the better way.