hey man if you want a toatl package at a great price get 3d Studio Max R3! I love it. If you get some plugins itll import OBJs and Light Wave files. Its fairly easy to dig into and extremly hard to really become a "expert". I have used Lightwave and I do not like it! Many windows to do one thing...not for me although it is a excellent package I do not recomend it. Ray Dream is a great starter but if you get serious you will want more power. If you want simplicity and complexity get TrueSpace. Although I dont usually recommend it it is easy and offers IK joints and many particle solutions under Dynamics. Also there a bunch of plugins. I like the 3d Paint feature in it, Although I choose 3d Studio Max for my work I recommend different programs for diffrent people, depending on time, application, and you willingness to learn. If you are a 10 on all those levels than MAX bro if you a 7 Truespace and if your a 5 Raydream Bryce and Poser. Please do not take this as insult I have and use all those except Truespace which sits on a shelf, and Lightwave which also sits with dust on it. Ohhh Yea Max (if you look) is 2799 on sale. Sorry dont have link damn HDD shit the bed:) but normal price is 3499.... Local