Power Up: For gamers, this is like Christmas

For gamers, the most exciting time of the year is upon us. During October and November, publishers will be flooding the market with new games that they hope will entice holiday shoppers.

It's almost impossible to keep on top of all the new releases, so today I will clue you in on the important ones for this month.

It takes a lot of gaming goodness for a title to stand out in October's stellar lineup, but Little Big Planet for PlayStation 3 is such a game. LBP features a cute (but not cloyingly so) free-form world where players can create just about anything they want and then solve puzzles however they choose. I've seen user-created LBP content that includes an incredibly sophisticated working calculator, an obstacle course, and even a marriage proposal. From my gaming chair, it looks as if Little Big Planet will be the kind of must-have game that will help drive PS3 system sales.

Music games are the new "it" genre, and October is playing host to some good ones. Rock Band 2 from MTV and Harmonix feature all-new songs from the original artists such as Bob Dylan, Pearl Jam and Bon Jovi. Improved instruments also will be available, including a wireless drum kit. Shipping out later this month is Guitar Hero World Tour, which adds a microphone along with its own innovative new drum kit. No cover bands here, either. For those who are ready to rock, it will be a difficult choice between these two great games.

Perhaps the most intriguing music game out this month, however, is Wii Music. Using the Wii's motion-sensitive controller, gamers can play more than 60 instruments while controlling the tempo. Want the band to pick up the beat? Move the controller faster; move it slower if you want a less hurried pace. An unlimited range of musical improvisation is right in the palm of your hand.

There are a pair of role-playing games out this month that I can't wait to play. Fable 2 moves Albion, the world created by renowned designer Peter Molyneux, 500 years ahead and adds new features. My favorite? A loyal canine companion for the player's character. Equally exciting is Fallout 3, an action-filled yet witty post-apocalyptic adventure from top development studio Bethesda (best known for its Oblivion series).

The pro hoops crowd has plenty of options this month, with three different games from which to choose. Front-runner NBA Live 09 from EA Sports is back, but some fans are partial to NBA 2K9 from 2K Sports. A third option is NBA 09 The Inside, published by Sony and exclusively for its systems (PS3, PS2, PSP). Those who like an edgier approach to sports will enjoy Blitz: The League II. The bad boy of football games is definitely not sanctioned by the NFL.

Action gamers will appreciate Brothers in Arms: Hell's Highway. The popular World War II series returns, but seems to add a more graphically bloody approach to virtual combat. For those who enjoy the crime genre, Grand Theft Auto knockoff Saints Row 2 blasts its way on to store shelves.