Have you tinkered with the camera clipping planes? Are these assets VERY far from 000 in these shots (like transforms over 10k)? Failing that, check the meshes for doubled faces or edges maybe.
Could be an error with the .vmt name or you're not defining $bumpmap inside your material. I've had that happen before. And like Racer said, the tools are broken. Try using the 2009, or the 2007?
Love the werewolf concept , but I feel you could go more aggresive with it imo example: http://th00.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/f/2010/079/3/8/WEREWOLF_3_by_el_grimlock.jpg
I know about 007 flight. It has nothing to do with modern history and Russia. Your links to anti-russian propagandistic noname blog is really "competent". lol. Dont be pathetic.
Max + Graphite Modeling Tools (in 2010) or Polyboost (2009 and below) is pretty powerful for high poly modeling. What exactly do you think these other pieces of software have to offer?
What kind of hardware? Updated video drivers? Why 2010? That was probably one of the buggiest releases there have been in max history. I would jump to 2012 or go back to 2009.
Another Speedsculpt. About 15 000 Quads. From Idea to the final pic in about 2 hours. And its realtime :) ZBrush, Substance Designer, Substance Painter, Marmoset Toolbag 2
Development hell? They didn't announce it until 2009. DX:HR was announced in '07 and was released last year, and they didn't show any gameplay until 2010 at Gamescom. Coincidentally, Gamescom is next week.