Electronic Arts has just trademarked a bunch of old game names – really old, in fact. Presumably there’s some kind of revival in prospect...?

The US patent office listings are dated this month, although the games themselves hark back a good deal earlier than that. Hands up who remembers Populous, Theme Park, Wing Commander and Road Rash.

They’re all from the late eighties or wrong end of the nineties, and on games machines long since swept under time’s raggedy rug. No matter, though, they’re excellent by any measure – particularly Theme Park and Populous from Bullfrog Productions’ excellent back-catalogue.

The trademarks don’t so much mention which platforms these games might be returning to, as list all possible eventualities – including download via global computer network – i.e the internet – video games consoles both handheld and free standing and “other wireless devices”. Fingers crossed that includes the obvious candidate too, ‘cos iPhone Road Rash would be totally sweet!. More soon.