Hiya.

Well, unless you are fantastically rich, MAX 9 will set you back something like $3500.00...and with the questions you are asking, can I assume that you have almost no experience with 3D? If so, go try a more affordable software package first. There are a few decent free ones out there (Wings3D and Blender come to mind), but if you don't mind spending a few bucks, Softimage|XSI 5 Foundation is a steal!

As to your question(s), here's a good, general way of thinking about 3d-package-to-game-engine pipeline: All the stuff you read that Program X can do...*none* of it can be brought into GameEngine X. Ok, now that that's said, you can happily ignore it as an absolute. That is, some packages may support some aspects of some 3d packages. As far as 3DGS is concerned...no. *Almost* Nothing will import. Not dynamics. Not springs. Not particles. Not bones. Not hard/soft bodies. Not cloth. Not proceedural textures. Not multi-textures. Not...etc...get my point? What will import: non-animated models with a UV map and SINGLE texture. What will import with appropriate plug-ins: animated models via a series of .3ds models that are then 'stitched' together in MED to get your vertex animated.

In short, read up on what MED can import and how. Learn what it can do and what you need to do to 'import'. Then you can go ahead and look at 3d packages and see what they can do for you natively, and if there are any plugins for it to help you.

Good luck at any rate!