Live shadows

Am I supposed to be seeing real time shadows and lights in my MAX VP. When I add a v-ray sun and move it around should I be able to see a hardware shadow? If so, how? If not, why?

viewport shading

From what I see here I can, but how?

Viewport Renderer

* The multithreaded viewport maximizes productivity and creativity; adaptive degradation technology automatically simplifies the scene display to meet user-defined target frame rates.
    * DirectX® viewport shading displays materials as they would appear in other real-time applications.
    * Support for all shader types is available via MAXScript—including HLSL and Cg shaders—along with shader performance enhancements. Work with CgFX files alongside .fx files in the viewport.
    * Review: users get immediate feedback on various render settings, including:
          o GPU-based, real-time shadow support, including support for self-shadowing and up to 64 lights simultaneously
          o Sun/Sky Workflow support: interactive previewing of objects/scenes using the 3ds Max Sun/Sky system
          o Support for mental ray Architectural and Design material settings

ActiveShade

* Preview window lets the user evaluate lighting and material changes to a scene.

It is from max2008 - you should do right mouse click on your lights then go to vieport lighting and shadows and then just turn it on (viewport shading - best).

This does not appear to work with Viz 2008…can anyone confirm please?

Viewport shading

I am using MAX 9, does this apply? I do get dark and light, but no shadows. If I have a box all sides will be back except for the side that has direct light. If I put something i front of the box, blocking the light, I don’t get any shadow.

As its already been said. Its a max 2008 thing. Which kinda rules out max 9