GN's U.K. PS2 channel reports that Activision, who acquired RedOctane last year, has registered new music video game names, leading to suggest it plans to take the "Guitar Hero" franchise in a whole new direction.

Activision has registered trademarks with the US Patent and Trademark Office for two potential new games - Guitar Villain and Drum Villain.

Although these patents were filed towards the end of last year, they're not the only ones to suggest the series is branching out in new instrumental directions. In April 2006, Guitar Hero publisher RedOctane placed an applcation to trademark both Drum Hero and Keyboard Hero.

Hopefully we will learn more about RedOctane's plans for the franchise this year.

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