So in the programming world there are various forums where you can get help with your software. One of the best is a place called Stack Overflow. I have seen some pretty good questions and answers there over the past two years or so. The community there has attracted some of the best and most knowledgeable around.
Now Stack Overflow has added other sites to what they like to call Stack Exchange. One of them specifically for Game Development. Sorry, there is nothing there for 3D graphics, just a small one for Graphic Design.
A blog where someone develops their own game engine Roecode.
GameDev.Net has a good number or articles and other information about game development.
Something else we can look at is a Trial of 3D Studio Max. It may be easier to use than Blender.
For making textures and such there is always GIMP, which while it's a terrible name it works just fine.
InkScape is a free vector drawing program as well.
I also found a mostly out of date forum topic about existing physics engines for XNA.
Just something I'd thought I'd throw in here.