[konidias]

Most of those expensive graphic programs are too graphical for this type of image.. Small graphics should be done by hand, not shaded in using fade tools and what not in some powerful paint program.

I use MSPaint myself.. I draw a ton of things there and most of the time people will ask me something like "You made that in paint? No way!"

Paint has plenty of great features for game sprites. You can turn on a grid, use custom colors, and it has all the basic tools. I just got finished drawing a bomy in paint.. I also drew new hammers for graal2001 which stefan liked and will probably replace the old hammers with. =D