It looks likely that Sega will be reintroducing the Hang-On series to next-generation consoles, with a new treatment for the franchise hitting the US Patent Office this week.

The series blossomed in arcades around the world and was a massive hit, arguably because players got to sit on a big plastic motorbike over and above any serious innovation in gameplay, though its success spawned many home conversions at the height of of the coin-op conversion back in the late 80s.

As to whether Sega will look to release Hang-On into arcades as well as on next-generation consoles is not known, though the possibility of a Revolution version has sparked instances of grown men (in the SPOnG office) grabbing remote controls handlebar style and swaying left to right making revving noises.

Hang-On was one of the games that made a legend of little know Sega developer Yu Suzuki. A little know fact is that Hang-On and Suzuki's other smash hit Space Harrier, were developed side by side and share a great deal of code, as the games were both tweaked to improve gameplay and feel-of-speed.

We'll let you know what happens with Hang-On, as it happens. And of course, we'll be praying every night before we go to bed that it will be released for Nintendo's Revolution. We suggest you do the same.

One piece of gossip to reach us sees UK based and Outrun-famed Sumo Digital handling new Hang-On though this remains unconfirmed at time of press.