Not to mention, use gotomypc to hack into your computer.
I personally use the more expensive programs:
Poser 6 - Making the animations
Maya 3d (Heck of alot better then Max) - Making the models to be animated, and exporting the animations.
Milkcrap 3 - Err milkshape 3d - Exporting and Importing from Maya to Poser, Poser to Maya.
Segments - Nothing yet, getting magic3d.
Photoshop cs2 - Textures
For you, i'd recommend getting anim8or, Gimp 2.0 for textures, and magic 3d or signs for segments.
I do agree though, it is pretty boring shooting zombies.
Death is only the end of the physical realm, eternity in the astral plains awaits you. But people are ugly there, and there are not very many multiplayer video games. So stick with earth for a while.