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With the WotlK NDA crushed and thrown away there's an information upheaval. WoW Insider is sorting through the overload and what will set WotlK apart from TBC is the Death Knight. It's the first new class introduction since World of Warcraft launched in 2004. Sure, there is some cause for concern. The big question on many minds is will the class be over powered? If you aren't in the beta maybe the following three videos will help you decide. Each video showcases a different talent tree: Unholy, Frost, and Blood. The videos are courtesy of Leiah, WotlK beta tester and MMOG blogger at World of Feedback.

The video above displays the Death Knight thrashing around in the Pools of Aggonar and specialized in Unholy. What stands out is the Death and Decay, a powerful AE ability, which leaves a wake of destruction in its path. When used in conjunction with Corpse Explosion and two Blood tree talents: Butchery and Vendetta, a lethal combo ensues as each kill returns 6% health and 20 runic power. Lichborne, Bone Armor, and Death Gate are also used. You can also see the sacrificial ghoul explode and deal 2,000 extra damage. The other two Death Knight build videos are after the break.

Here's the Age of Conan trailer we've been waiting on (the whole thing is after the break) fresh off of its release on GameSpot. The environments look good, but I have to say that the character models seem a bit disappointing, at least from what I could see. But there are some cool-looking mounts in here, flowing cloaks, lots of boats and of course, plenty of blood and dismemberment: the heads, they are a-poppin'.

Haven't got enough Age of Conan media yet? Be sure to check our Dark Templar and Barbarian hands-on, as well as the gallery of screens from CES, and a GDC PvP city preview. Could May 20th maybe come a little sooner this year?

Funcom is not only proud of the fact that Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures will feature adult shenanigans such as "titties" (Male or female? Clearly a case for Veronica Mars), but they are boasting via a press release that the recent batch of invites put them over the 10,000 mark in total beta invites sent out.

Funcom wants attention, and I'm falling for it! But if I were to jab them over something it would be about the specifics: How many players out of 10,000 are still playing? What's the average time those players spend playing the beta? etc. Yea, I doubt Funcom would disclose those numbers... Anyhow, I checked my entire array of inboxes again, and not one AoC beta invite was found. Mark my words Funcom, I will remember this tragedy. Maybe your luck is better than mine, be sure to thoroughly check your inboxes as I'm sure some invites are being crushed by the anti-spambot crusaders.

I think Richard Garriot would wonder what in the hell Funcom is smoking by giving out so many beta invites almost four months before the game is due to launch on or about March 25th, 2008. On the other hand, I relish in all this beta madness; even if I do agree with some of Garriot's points in regards to Tabula Rasa's beta. Learn to develop? Don't hate. We love Tabula Rasa. errr.. Well some writers at Massively do. (Note: I am going to give TR another chance eventually -- it's in the bargain bin.) Woot?

With so much content flooding the front pages here at Massively it's quite possible you didn't gander the new Age of Conan trailer. Here's a spoiler: Heads roll in splendorous Hyborian glory. It's hard to keep up with all the decapitations, so, if you made it this far check out the Age of Conan categorical goodness, and tell us how we need more AoC coverage in the comments. So, did you get lucky? Sign up for the AoC beta here before the next batch gets sent out.

[via, TenTonHammer]
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Gamesblog.it managed to score a video interview with Jorgen Tharaldsen, product director for Funcom and Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures , and just in case you weren't sure yet, he makes it clear -- this game is not for kids. The interviewer poses a few questions relating to how AoC will be different from other MMO's out there, in particular its more mature and violent approach.

The passionate Tharaldsen does not hold back -- much like the game itself -- with his responses. He places a lot of emphasis on Funcom wanting to be faithful to the Conan story and license, and not having to "dumb it down" or remove elements for a younger audience. Decapitations, prostitutes, and copious amounts of blood are some of the things mentioned that you may not find in your average MMO. Tharaldsen said that it was liberating to not have to worry about including aspects like this -- anything that they wanted to add, they did.

It remains to be seen how the proposed server-side ratings system will pan out, and whether there will be an uncut edition of the game available in every region, but it's nice to know that at least somewhere, the game will exist in a form that is exactly how the developers envisioned.