Three new massively multiplayer online games are throwing down the gauntlet in 2008. These titles, more than any other game since World of Warcraft's 2004 release, stand an excellent chance of dethroning Blizzard Entertainment's mighty MMO as the king of an extremely lucrative market.

The website of wired released Age of Conan, Pirates of the Burning Sea and Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning will challenge WoW this year. They have their strengths to challenge WoW.

Here's a sneak peek at what the new games offer:

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures

Release date: March 25

In order to appease the built-in fan base that this wealth of lore has developed, Funcom is focusing heavily on the title's combat system. While previous MMOs allowed players to click a few buttons and watch actions unfold, Age of Conan employs a "real combat" system that allows players to not only control the direction of their attacks, but also focus on various body parts in real time.

As a result, the game will not only stick close to its source material's penchant for almost cartoonish ultraviolence, it also bucks the something-for-everyone trend started by World of Warcraft.

click here for full image