Blender open source graphics creation
Using Blender to Make Game Models Part 1
Introducing the Blender 3D Modeling Environment (6 Videos)
Step by step tutorial for displaying models in XNA using Google Sketch-Up and Blender
Photorealistic scenery rendering software
Illuminating Shaders: Getting Started Developing Pixel Shaders for Lighting
Video -- Getting Started With Custom Shaders
FX Composer (for shaders)
Convert 3ds format to .x
For text output invoke conv3ds -x filename
FBX Converter
Convert from 3ds format to fbx Conversion Tools