I don't want to go into too much detail on techniques yet, but thought about perhaps using After Effects or Flash on a low resolution. But when I think about it, you are right. It might be problematic to really work pixelwise in those applications. Game Maker would be an option, but would involve a friend of mine who does the coding and making lots of little buttons for me to press (don't know if i can count on his patience though ).

For now I just want to see what people have done regarding this medium. I can also imagine mixing pixel art with something highres, which would eliminate that precision-problem of after effects, etc..

I mean the options are countless. Perhaps mixing pixelart with lowpoly 3D and pixelart textures? Another great inspiration for me was for example http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=14194.msg117172;boardseen#new as an option to transfrom pixel art into something else. I also thought about this topic: http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=14034.0 as I feel inspired to really apply pixel art principles to something else OR do it the other way round, making pixel art in a context that is purposely more complex than what pixelart would allow. Just brainstorming, sorry.