SANTA MONICA, Calif.--In years past, publishers have used the Electronic Entertainment Expo to announce new games, taking advantage of the global audience tuned in to the trade show. However, as it did last year, Sega has played the bricklayer, paving its road to E3 well in advance with announcements for games such as Mario & Sonic at the Olympics, Ghost Squad, and NiGHTS: Journey of Dreams. However, while the publisher isn't using the annual trade show as a venue for its big reveal, Sega's lineup includes many games whose details have been sparse at best.

　　One of the more intriguing games Sega will be showing for the first time at this year's show is Mario & Sonic at the Olympics. The once bitter rivals bring their respective posses to that great harmonizer of disparate factions, the Olympic games, where they will face off in events including track and field, archery, gymnastics, and more. Mario & Sonic at the Olympics will be shown on both the Wii and Nintendo DS.

　　Sega's lineup includes three more Nintendo-platform exclusives. Announced during the publisher's gamers' day in May, Sega will be porting its arcade light-gun shooter Ghost Squad to the Wii. Also for the Wii will be the revival of the Sega Saturn's non-Sonic mascot, NiGHTS. In the jester's follow-up adventure, Journey of Dreams, Sega will again seek to push creativity in gaming, this time by way of the Wii's motion-sensing controls. Pulling double duty, Sonic will make his second appearance of the show with classic platforming action in Sonic Rush Adventure for the DS.

　　On the multiplatform front, Sega will be showing its book-to-film-to-game adaptation Golden Compass. Set to follow the first book in Phillip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, Golden Compass will be shown on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, Nintendo DS, and PC. Sega will also be wielding its modern-day gladiatorial-style shooter The Club on the PC, PS3, and Xbox 360.

　　And as expected, the publisher will be showing off its postapocalyptic sci-fi real-time strategy game Universe at War: Earth Assault, on both the PC and Xbox 360. Sega will also give gamers a chance to see just how well it updated its online-fighting-enabled fighter Virtua Fighter 5 in the Xbox 360 version. Wrapping up its offerings, Sega plans on showing the recently announced Dungeon Siege spiritual successor, Space Siege, from Gas Powered Games.

　　Check back later this week for GameSpot's complete E3 coverage, as well as to get a more in-depth look at what Sega has on offer.

　　[UPDATE] On Tuesday morning, Sega released an officially updated show listing. Adding to the Japanese publisher's lineup will be several multiplatform releases. Condemned 2: Bloodshot, the sequel to Monolith's horror action game released in 2005, will be shown for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. From acclaimed rhythm-game designer Tetsuya Mizuguchi, Sega Rally Revo will also be steering its way to the show on the PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, and PC.

　　Sega also revealed Iron Man would be headed to the show. The publisher initially hadn't indicated which platforms the metal-clad hero would appear on. Aside from initially only being slated for "next-gen platforms," the publisher noted that Iron Man will appear on the Xbox 360, PS3, PS2, PS3, PS2, PSP, PC, Wii, and DS. The game is now slated to appear in Spring 2008.

　　Also at the show will be the recently announced anime-inspired Bleach: Shattered Blade on the Wii and Bleach: The Blade of Fate, both of which will be released this fall.