server side games question

Hi, Right I'm still pretty new to server side programming and have a few questions regarding the possible uses of existing technology in 'low-tech' (not 3d FPS/RTS/RPGs) online games. As I understand it PHP is used to add dynamic content to HTML (from MySQL database for example) and it is also possible to write applications in C/C++ that run on server computer (SUSE 7.2 + APACHE for example) that update databases at set time intervals. I am a games programmer and was wondering if it would be possible to code the following system which would run on an SUSE Apache server box: An database containing client and game data (use MySQL?), An HTML/PHP based front end (is PHP best choice for this?), A Some form of application that process the game or turn info (in the DB) at set time intervals and updates the game database with it (use C/C++?). I am competent in C/C++, ok at php and ok at MySQL but not sure how to fit it all together like how do I go about creating an application that process's the database? Can any one suggest sites/books/people who I could read/ask to find out more about this idea? Also are the languages I specified the best languages to use for this? I am open to suggestions and constructive criticism. Cheers, Daniel