I've only been aware of pixel art as an art form for a few years, and I don't really know much about its modern history. Some of you who have been doing this for 10+ years may be able to answer some of my questions.

- How is pixel art progressing? Is it a lost art form, where we're still trying to understand the old masters of the 90's and early 2000's? Is it losing popularity? Or are the best pixel artists today far more skilled than yesterday? Is there kind of a ressurgence thanks to indie games lately?

- Is there any change of paradigms? I've read a short account of pixel art history written by Helm, where I gathered that there was a sort of consolidation and consensus-gathering on what pixel art was when Pixelation started, with rather strict definitions of what constituted pixel art, but that pixel art today has grown in different directions with more acceptance for different styles. Is that an accurate understanding?

- Do Pixelation and Pixeljoint form the Mekka of pixel art, or are there major pixel art scenes elsewhere, such as in Russia or East-Asia, that aren't easily accessible to westeners?

Hey everyone. It's been a few years since I posted here. Don't worry about it - it's not you, it's me. Anyway, I've come crawling back to ask for your C+C.

This is all very WIP, especially the interface, the top-down view and the co-pilot portrait. But all comments are welcome regardless. Especially concerning the helicopter sprite, from both angles.

EDIT: I should explain, the idea is to have an old school 320x240 resolution game where you pilot a SAR helicopter (search and rescue). You get both a side view and a top view and they are synchronized, so you have to worry about moving in three dimensions. The objective of the game is to save people, put out fires, deliver emergency supplies, etc. A non-violent version of Raptor and similar games.