A new registration at the US Patent Office indicates a Balance Board-based future for the Super Monkey Ball franchise. Yeah, that might work.

Concrete info is scant – non-existent, in fact – so we’re not 100% certain of the platform/peripheral specifics. The given name rather gives the game away, though – 'Super Monkey Ball: Step & Roll'. That can only mean one thing, can’t it?

The cardio-vascular benefits of playing such a game using Nintendo’s clunky controller would probably be negligible. Calves-of-steel may well be forthcoming, though – likewise a greatly improved sense of balance and a sudden, inexplicable fondness for yellow, arc-shaped fruit. But they’d all be secondary to the key selling point – that controlling Aiai and chums with the Balance Board, effectively putting you inside the ball, would be almost too cool!

We’ll be keeping an eye on this one. Meantime we’re comforted that the predictions are correct – Monkey Ball: Touch & Roll was for the DS with its stylus interface, so Step & Roll must mean the Balance Board. Please, oh please let it be so...