is there another low cost / free imaging tool that supports a dedicated alpha channel like photoshop does? most apps I know premultiply alpha so you dont see colors anymore for alpha = 0 areas, but I want a separate channel.
Also it's not like you have to dedicate yourself to Blizzard's hand painted style to get a job there. Peris got hired there a few months ago and his Unearthly '08 entry was nowhere near Blizzard's hand painted style. I agree that you shouldn't dedicate yourself to one art style, but I think you're taking this Blizzard art…
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/10/18/modern-warfare-2-pc-wont-support-dedicated-servers/ Appearently there won't be any dedicated servers for MP :( Maybe I won't get the game after all. What a pity.