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Gamers and geeks everywhere are saving up for holiday 2006, and BAM! September drops out of nowhere and unleashes games, DVD, movies and some hot TV. I have no idea how I’m going to find time to take all of this stuff in, but it’s going to be done, mark my words!

The Games of September:

Company of Heroes - Relic, one of the best PC developers in the world, has been working on this game for 4 years (and have the ‘Best of E3 Awards’ to prove it). Everyone I know at Relic (they are based in Vancouver) tells me it’s going to be more than worth the wait. Best PC game of all time? It’s possible.

Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (Can) - Happy Day - the first Star Wars Lego got everyone’s attention for it’s accessiblity, humor and gameplay. Now we go into the original trilogy as Lego characters. While we all know this game is going to be amazing, the real question is whether I get it on DS, Xbox or both?

The Red Star - If you don’t know what this game is, I’m not surprised. The game is based on an indy comic about an alternate reality Russia where sci-fi and fantasy were mixed in with Communism.

The game is a hectic top-down shooter which almost died an early death when Acclaim shut down their studio in Austin, where the game was being developed. The gang at Red Star wasn’t about to let that happen and now the game finally gets to see the light of day. Of course, with a new and smaller distributor, actually finding the title might be a bit of a challenge as well.

LocoRoco (Can) - It’s been called “The Katamary Damacy of PSP” so many times that I just have to repeat it. It’s my early pick for handheld game of the year. Even with New Super Mario and all of the other wonderful stuff coming out on DS, the LocoRoco demo has captured my heart and the full game will capture my wallet. Look at the smile on that face - how can you resist?

Whoops, what’s this?

Yep, that’s the LocoRoco soundtrack. So wicked awesome, it’s gnarly.

Mario Hoops 3 On 3 (Can) - When everyone else is exploiting their NBA licenses on console and PC, I’ll be slam dunking with Mario and the crew on DS.

Okami (Can) - Oh Okami, how do I love thee? At E3 2005 the one game that truly stood out for me was Okami. Seeing it again at E3 2006 reminded me of my love, but pained me and stretched my patience. Okami is coming and I can’t wait. In a world where everyone else is trying to be photorealistic, Okami takes a painters brush to the visuals, fx and gameplay and comes out with an action adventure game that proves that the heart of an artist can still find a home in video games.

Stacked for PSP - Guilty Pleasure of the month. Handhelds have a load of garbage poker games on them. Mobile is even worse. Stacked on PC is the choice of many selective poker players in my circle of friends. Now the excellent AI, tips and visuals of Stacked are coming to my PSP. With LocoRoco and Stacked, I might actually need to finally buy another PSP battery.

NOW - that’s just the games for September. The DVD’s of September are simply nirvana.

Avatar The Last Airbender - The Complete Book 1 Collection (Can) - Sure, I own all of the individual DVDs, but the boxed set comes with a bonus disc worth of special features and takes up less space on the shelf. Thus, as logic demands, the individual DVD’s I already own will be regifted this holiday season.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - If you are reading my site and you aren’t watching Avatar, then you are seriously missing out. Yes, it’s a kids cartoon, yes, it’s made in America and YES, I know I’m obessed. Watch a few episodes and you will be too. (Tip - when the box set comes out, snatch up the first DVD for cheap on eBay.)

Star Wars Episode IV - A New Hope (1977 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition) (Can) - As if Lego Star Wars II wasn’t enough, we get the original Star Wars - A New Hope, uncut, unremastered and untouched is available as a special feature on the re-release of the Special Edition DVD’s. Time to go back to your childhood and relive the classic again for the first time. Insert Han Shot First joke here.

Lost - The Complete Second Season (Can) - Since we watched Season 1 while Season 2 was airing, Kim and I have managed to keep out of touch with the whole of Season 2. We’ve been very attendant to keep our ears and eyes closed whenever anyone starts talking. We finally get to catch up.

Teen Titans Go!- The Complete Second Season (Can), The Batman - The Complete Second Season (Can), Batman Beyond - Season Two (Can) and Justice League Unlimited - Season One (Can) - Animation fans have been treated to some of the best comic adaptations ever over the past couple of years and WB has heard the screams of the fans and is finally releasing them on DVD. And the prices on the Teen Titans Go! and The Batman sets are so good it’s scary.

The Little Mermaid (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Can) - This movie will always hold a special place in my heart and now it will have a special place on my shelf. Dinglehoppers, snarfblats and all.

TV - In between gaming and DVD binges, I have to schedule time to fit in the delights of television.

Avatar: Secret of the Fire Nation - Avatar fans have been fasting since the middle of July and on Sept 15th it will be time to feast. The Gaang goes to the great Earth Kingdom city of Ba Sing Se and discovers a terrible Fire Nation secret. Where’s Appa? Zuko and Iroh in the Earth Kingdom? Toph on the run? Oh man! While everyone else is airing pilots, Avatar is still 2/3’s of the way through Season 2 and it’s going to be a great autumn for Avatar fans.

Heroes - NBC has so much faith in this show that they are offering it for free on iTunes on Sept 1st, 24 days before it’s premiere. I caught the pilot at Comic-Con and this is one show I’ll be watching all season long. The premise is simple - real people with unreal powers. This isn’t about costumes and arch enemies, this is a bit more down to earth.

So far, 2006 has been a relatively disappointing year for movies, but a couple of potential sleepers are heading out in September and both of them are big screen affairs.

Fearless - Jet Li has gone of the record saying this will be his last kung-fu action movie. Sure, he’ll do other movies, but this is the last time we’ll be able to see him hanging from cables waving a rubber sword around. Opening day for sure!

Renaissance cranks up the contrast from Sin City, blows out the mocap from the Monster House and puts the noir back in noir. The development of this movies is an adventure in itself, the fact that it is finally complete and getting a theatrical release in North America is almost as amazing as the visuals this film promises.

And in the middle of all of this media goodness, the Tokyo Game Show is going on. With E3 ramping down and everyone fighting for scraps in North America, TGS becomes the premiere destination to find out what’s happening in games. I can’t wait to see all of the random Japanese DS games! Tokyo, here I come!

To think - most entertainment companies don’t start releasing their good stuff until October and November.