THQ ships SpongeBob Movie game

Are you ready, kids? THQ today announced that the video game titled The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie has shipped, and is now available at retail outlets throughout North America. All told, the video game version of the Nickelodeon character's big-screen debut is available on five different platforms: the PlayStation 2, the Xbox, the GameCube, the PC, and the Game Boy Advance.

The film opens in theaters on November 19.

The game follows the plotline of the film: Someone has stolen King Neptune's crown, and SpongeBob and pals must travel to Shell City to get it back. Players can play as either SpongeBob or Patrick Star, both of whom have their own sets of moves, through six large 3D environments.

The games are rated "E" for Everyone. The console versions retail for $39.99 each, the Game Boy Advance game retails for $29.99, and the PC version retails for $19.99.