xXxGuitar:
Thanks. I am looking forward to your 2.5D concept game. I would be happy to help. Actually I also thought about some kind of an 2.5D game for a possible project.

MrCode:
I think this is no talent - just work. Lightwave does cylindrical mapping but at the end I have to move and stretch uv-polygons manually. So there is still some work involved.

LoctClimate:
I am sure that Blender can do all that stuff as well. I once checked and liked it. A baked ambient map is a very good idea if you paint your textures later on. I use this technique for organic models. But for many other models I do it the other way around: I imagine this model in my head or on a paper and then I paint textures first. After that I start to model and uv-map the object. It is way more fun since I can apply textures right in the moment I am creating the mesh. It even saves time.