Where do i start?

I am an art student and want to take my models rom maya and put them in a world where i can move them around and possibly shoot other models. how do i start putting that together? I am not trying to make a game that requires balance and huge interface systems or AI. Just something where i can toss my character in and move it around and shoot something. I just want a way to display my models interactivly.

Sending a demo reel and sending an interactive enviroment where someone can experiance the models are two completly different things. I would like to take it to that next level and make my artwork interactive. I am a digital artist and would like a way to involve the people who are viewing my models and textures.

So my idea is a single sceen. something like a city center with a fountain or something with the ability to controll the main model and run around the fountain. Maybe have other models standing around to view as well. I may think about some very basic AI so they will walk around or shoot you or something but noting huge.

So where do i start? there are like 4 Torque engines and the RTS thing as well. Money isnt a big deal but i dont want to spend 1000 dollars on this little project. I think buying that 200-300 dollar one might be good but do i really even need that much?

Any help would be great thanks.