If you're thinking about C code, you're probably looking at drivers or unix programming. I'm sure there's database companies that are looking for decent C or C++ programmers. You'd be programming for concurrency and optimization there. Granted, databases aren't really a sexy field, but... where there's muck there's brass as they say.
From what I understand, a lot of the C++ programming is windows stuff. But a lot of the Windows programming at small companies is going over to C# stuff. But, there are some ISV's around that are probably looking for programmers. Joel Spolsky is always hiring. I don't know how much concurrency work you'll be doing at an ISV, though.
As far as 2D/3D graphics are concerned, there's always work for programmers in the special FX industry. Those tend to be smaller companies, and they tend to do more C++, C, and python stuff working with graphics. You don't have the upside potential that you do with startups, though. If you're interested, by a copy of CineFX at Borders, go through an look up the company names and see if they're hiring programmers. Or, Goiogle companies like Pixar, Dreamworks, ILM, Tippet studios, Blue Sky and see if they're hiring programmers.
The VFX world does a lot of C++, Python and works a lot with distribued computing, render farms, graphics, optimization, image manipulation, etc... It might be your cup of tea.