pPLnOmE;349461 said:Whether you choose 3ds Max (Trial or Pay-for-version) or Blender (completely Free) you will need plug-ins for importing/exporting .x (DirectX) files.
You will aslo need a program for creating textures, you can use Photoshop (CS3 or CS4 Trial or Pay-For version, I prefer to use CS3) or you can use GIMP (Free)
GIMP 2.6.7 Free Download
Adobe Photoshop CS4 Extended Free Trial *Need to create a free account to download*
As for Adobe Photoshop CS3, a free trial is no longer available since CS4 came out, you CAN still obtain CS3 but only through Purchasing the full program.
Now, for the Plug-ins for your modeling program:
Pandasoft DirectX Exporter for 3ds Max (Select the version of 3ds you have for the appropriate file)
List of Plug-ins, Blender .X Exporter is listed here, as well as the 3ds Max .X Importer