Windwalker, just take note of what Crackpot said - don't be too ambitious. Start small to learn your way around C2. The only reason some things are easier in XNA that C2, is because you know XNA better than C2. Give it a month or so and you'll probably reverse that statement ;)
Excal, yeah I think I recall that article (I read so many, my mind gets overloaded with information and has seizures). Zynga are only good at taking an existing game (blatant copying) and adding social networking and virtual crap to buy. They tried their hand at their own game on iOS only to fail miserably. They understood social trends, but not something that had to engage the player each session. Experience means nothing if you don't understand your target market.
hmm I wonder how they're getting on with the EA lawsuit... ;p