Lighting definitely a factor... that first FreeStuff pic probably using warm lighting. Get those free light sets mentioned above. Also, Zrincx might have a free light set here; if so, d/l it. Also, are you using bump maps? If not, do so to get more of a real texture. Furthermore, you might try changing the highlight color for your figure's skin. It's probably black, and changing it to a dark brown or dark red might up the realism. I don't know whether it's still there, but you might try RuntimeDNA.com's freebies for something called Tonals... MAT files that will change the settings like I described...though it's fairly easy to do manually.