Radiosity
You can simulate radiosity with 3DS. There are some tips in different books
(for e.g. Inside 3DS).
RayMan 2.0 (the 3DS raytracer engine) will have a combined z-buffer/raytracer
with radiosity. Until this release you can buy the first one wich have some
possibilitys to simulate radiosity by using distributed raytracing.
When you play with the ambient and diffuse color of your objects, make them a
little bit reflective (about 0.1-2%) and make the reflection blurry (try a
angle>2.0). This will simulate radiosity as good as you can without real
radiosity.
BTW: there is a rule that says radiosity is more than 10 times slower than
raytracing. I wouldn`t try that on a 486/66 :-).
Michael