Resources for overhead tank/driving game?

I'm wondering if there are any resources for starting an overhead tank/driving game. I found the mini tutorial on making a tank here:
http://tdn.garagegames.com/wiki/TGB/MiniTutorials

I'm new at this, and just wondering where you'd start with making a scrolling, tiled map, a gun that fires, etc. Is there a template for an overhead game of this style?

Thanks!
-Mike