3ds Max ASE import plugin was originally created by Christer Janson at Kinetix Development as part of 3D Studio Max 7 SDK. With several fixups and tweaks it can be compiled into a working ASE Import plugin.
Was there a shareware version of 3dmax? 
Or has it only been a retail app? Have you looked into free alternatives such as pov-ray? Not a 3d modeler, a ray. Oct 31, 2008 4:31 AM in response to avedon In response to avedon When a file is created by KINETIX's 3D Studio MAX, you need KINETIX's 3D Studio MAX to read it. If it was created with paperport, the first choice program would be paperport but, as Tom wrote, GraphicConvert may also do the trick.