Thanks for your reply folks, some good info there.
Im on a real steep learning curve here, I have to produce an interactive game/web site for a branch of the company which I work for. The modeling is nearly done and we have some talented programers on the case, but I dont understand out how to export my models with textures from Maya into what every engine is going to be use, Quake or Unreal. Is there an export plugin for Maya out to these engines???? oh loads of questions to be answerd...bring it on