This is a combination of shameless plug and public service announcement.
I recently entered a Renderosity contest sponsored by FX Realms. The idea is to use a demo of their software to create a two legged cat or rat critter. The top three contestants can earn some nifty swag in the form of free software.
Check out my entry in the contest. If you like it, please vote for it.
http://www.renderosity.com/contest.ez?contest_id=315&ShowQuestion=9642
FX Realms Creature Creater software is pretty neat stuff. If you have never played with it before, it allows you to select from hundreds of parts (in the full versions) and mix and match them to create a wide range of characters. You can even stretch those parts to make them even more individualized. You can then export those parts as a DXF mesh or 3DS object for further texturing or animation.
I had a blast playing with the demo and I can see where it can be a big help for indie game developers.
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TAZ
Oh, I went for the cat babe theme. If your parents censor your surfing, ask permission before visiting.
[edit for typos]