Blessed be the eagle-eyed fanboys. Heck knows who else has the time or inclination to monitor the online patent registration sites of the world in search of new game-related entries.

‘Choplifter’ is a word that should moisten the eyes of gamers of, ahem, a certain age. This helicopter-based rescue-cum-shoot ‘em up first took off on home computer and prehistoric console formats back in ’82 and last saw the light of day on PS2 with the instantly forgettable (well, we’d forgotten it) Choplifter: Crisis Shield in 04. But is the franchise about to make a triumphant return to next-gen platforms?

A brand new registration from developers InXile Entertainment certainly points that way. The listing on the US Patent and Trademark site specifies use of the title for “downloadable electronic games via the internet and wireless devices”, which rather suggests that the game is heading for Xbox LIVE/PSN and mobile gaming platforms.

Choplifter won’t be InXile’s first foray into the archives either – the company also produced the spoof-tastic PC remake of The Bard’s tale, itself a classic from the Apple II era. Otherwise the company is currently in the midst of producing Hei$t for PC and next-gen consoles, arriving soon and looking highly decent in its gritty 60s Frisco-set livery.

More on both soon.