3D models to in-game

How exactly would I go about programing the models my artist friend makes in a 3d app (say 3d studio max) and transfer it into the game? How is the programing on running and jumping (character animation) done? I've searched a bit but found little. What is the process?

Thanks :D

model files (.max or .3ds in your case) need to be parsed just like any other file. They contain data about the model. Key frame animation data is also stored in the file, how it is stored varies with file type. You need to render the poly's of the model just like you'd render anything else....

You might want to visit WotSit. It contains a modestly sized database of file formats. Sometimes with more than one document per format.