Gaming in C++

Here's the deal, /prog/. Over the winter break, I have decided I want to practice and expand my skills, and as such, design a small applet type game using C++. Now, i am fluent in C++, and MFC, but MFC wouldn't exactly be ideal for this. I fully intend for the game to be 2D Sprite based.

What should I look into, what should I use, and how should I go about things? I've heard openGL would work well, is there anything else I ought to remain cognizant of?

>>25 here

>>28
I agree with you. Wrapping every little thing OpenGL can do IS stupid. I meant writing a minimal set of functions that does ONLY what is needed so the graphics code isn't everywhere in the program.

>>31
I am going to backtrack a little and say it probibly is better to use a pre-existing engine. This early on you'll probibly run into way too many traps and headaches.