Can anyone direct me to a resource about making simple graphics type games.
By simple, I mean displaying bit map images and making active buttons and stuff.
I know C++ console output fairly well, but I want to make a game with some nice
pictures and stuff. For example, a card game or some other type that the player
interacts with the game using the mouse and keyboard. I'm not sure if I should
try to learn direct-x or what.

That's a really good answer, thanks.
I was hoping to do a game entirely in C++, but it
looks like I will end up using something like Python
since I don't have any graphics library experience yet.
Actually, Game Maker is pretty promising for what I have in mind.

[Edited by - Ingot on June 26, 2010 7:01:29 PM]