This month marks the 10th birthday of Pixel Joint. Technically, it was around before that in a limited form - but let's just call that the gestation period. If you're interested, here's a view of the site from a decade ago.
 
Anyway, this week, sprite your own interpretation of one of iSTVAN's three nerd mascot concepts shown below. It can be wildly different in style, as long as it's clear that it's based on one of the designs shown below:



Your piece must be at least 3 heads tall. Just so we're all on the same page, the designs above are <2 heads tall. Also, check out this illustration from Andrew Loomis.

Canvas Size - Max 100 x 100.
Colours - Max 32. Transparency counts as a colour.
Transparency - Required.
Animation - Optional.

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.

It's time to vote for the latest pixel art challenge: Snow Globe.

VOTE NOW!

Create an image using the snow globe canvas shown below. Your image doesn't actually have to be a snow globe, if you don't want.

The image is divided into two sections: the globe and the base. Each of these two sections must use a different set of colours. You can decide to split the colours however you want; for example, you could have 10 colours in both sections or 4 in one and 16 in the other.

Canvas Size - Use the provided canvas.
Colours - Max 21. Transparency counts as a colour. Each section (globe and base) must use a completely different set of colours.
Transparency - Required, but only outside the canvas.
Animation - Optional.

Frario has started a really cool project on Indiegogo!

The following pixel artists produced Pixel Joint's top rated pixel art for November 2014. Many thanks go out to this month's top pixel artists and all the members who took time to rate.

 

A new Wario Land by Snake

Neverending straight by Mrmo Tarius

The Laser Sharks by Snake

Some Quest by vedsten

ROA - Fire Stage by johanvinet

Pacific Grove, CA by slym

Great A Tuin by Jinn

Four Fine Forest Friends by tyrant

Technotitlan by iLKke

Motorbike Race by CooliePixel

Create a full-bodied sprite of an original character that is either casting magic or using a technologically advanced weapon.

If you choose to make a magic user, your sprite must be wearing something purple and facing to the right -->

If you choose to make a tech user, your sprite must be wearing something cyan and facing to the left <--

Who will win? Well, it's up to you.

Canvas Size - Max 64 x 64.
Colours - Max 16. Transparency counts as a colour.
Transparency - Required.
Animation - No.

5734L3R is a platformer that focuses on atmosphere and exploration in a world of robots.
Pixelart by winged doom and Programmed by Yanrishatum (PJs Image Specs Tool and the extended update)
Music by ShinnyMetal and Sound Design by ShrackAttack

Please help our pixel art game Graveyard March win the App of the Year Award.

The latest collection of PJer finds, creations and other stuff.

December 10 is the 21st anniversary of Doom, so multi-award winner, Jinn, wants you to pixel a new and original enemy sprite that could possibly exist in Doom.

Canvas Size - Max 128 x 128.
Colours - Max 25, chosen from the palette below:



Transparency - Required.
Animation - Optional.

A collection of videos. The parts one and two are the more pixel related.
Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5

This week, create a mockup of an original digital board game. It can be a serious game or something utterly absurd.

Several existing examples here:

Puerte Rico
Lords of Waterdeep
Monopoly
Ticket to Ride
Small World

Canvas Size - Max 320 x 200. Either horizontal or vertical.
Colours - Max 22.
Transparency - No.
Animation - Optional. 

The challenge thread will have all the challenge updates. The thread is also a great place to post your WIPs.