So at 3 years to learn how to model and 2 months to write your retro game in that should leave you 2 years, 13 months and 3 weeks late for the contest
You can program already can't you?
OK OK seriously, Milkshape is cheap and highly regarded around here ($12), although personally I preffer more expensive, complicated, and innanely pedantic tools that I will never fathom or understand because even when I look at a blank canvas the screen looks busy with icons so anyone walking past says wow that looks complicated.
Pneumatic Dryll, Outrageous epic cleric of EQ/Xev
God made the world in 7 days, but we're still waiting for the patch.