I remember reading somewhere that some of the GoW chars were as much as 10 - 14 K .
Obviously the limitations change with different types of game, such as MMORPG vs. RPG.
Plus with all the with the LOD models, and other tricks. You can get away with a lot more.
www.stevenegan-cgi.com
"Your weapons are no match for ours! People of Mars, surrender!"
"Um, this isn't Mars. This is Earth."
"Earth? Earth-with-nuclear-weapons Earth?"
"Yes."
[long pause] "Friend!!"