Every since Adobe started their CreativeCloud program allowing access to all CS6 software for $50 bucks a months, it's become affordable for me to have a workflow based on Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash almost exclusively. Photoshop Extended even allows for animating sprites with the timeline capability. Where the Adobe programs are lacking I'll turn to Manga Studio and Corel Painter, depending on whether I'm doing comic book style linework, or more fantasy based painterly styles, but don't use those nearly as often as the Adobe suite.