You can use different methods inside Volume Select to select the vertices, for example vertex color, or a bitmap, or another mesh. That allows a lot of control. Looks like what you have is good enough though, congrats!
I think S2Engine has a good idea there, strip the diffuse textures off the materials and take a look again, you may get a clearer example of how your reflective materials are working and a nice showing of your lighting...
I think the lighting you have going on makes it really hard to properly make out all the features. I hardly noticed at first that he had a beard, for example. I like how you've done the eyes.
I think the font in TheBeard's example looks a lot clearer at the auto-resized forum image resolution. Perhaps increasing the kerning or spacing between letters will help. Or even switching to a different font entirely. Otherwise, it looks good.
The client will need to be specific about what tools and technologies they want to use. For example, many programmers may be familiar with C++, but not DirectX or OpenGL, or even games. Otherwise your post is the equivalent of "I want an artist for my game!".
What jeremiah said. Keep in mind that some of the 2010 Plugins are not available in 2012 anymore and vice versa (Reactor/MassFX being an obvious example). In the long run it might be better to unify to one version. (If you can avoid it).
+1 on this. I'm actually trying to learn what I need to know to switch careers from vfx to the gaming indusry. And it just seems like it's going to get worse. Just look at what happened to Rhythm & Hues for example.
Actually that's what I am doing, the last one for example used Tom Cruise as reference, I just suck at likeness^^ Taking notes and analyzing the characteristics of the face before sounds like a good idea tho :D
Looks really excellent... good bake, good materials and details... only crit I could really present is that the polygon density is a little inconsistent, for example the curve on the top of the receiver, compared to the trigger guard. Very good work.
jimanjr : Idd add some more details on the cristal and make it darker to get the green leafs showing some more ; here is an example of a cristal texture http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lVYUVTbSaOI/T9HDxt9laXI/AAAAAAAAAOg/ZfDlNZfBG4o/s1600/gem_diffuse.jpg