In a fourth quarter crowded with higher-profile releases, Empire Interactive is hoping its new shooter will snare some sci-fi-obsessed gamers. Today, the company announced it has shipped Starship Troopers, a PC shooter based on the 1997 film of the same name, which was itself based on author Robert Heinlein's 1959 novel. While a box-office failure in theaters, director Paul Verhoeven's campy epic has since become a cult classic, guaranteeing it a certain amount of interest. The game is rated M for Mature and retails for $39.99.

　　Like the film, Starship Troopers puts players in the boots of a "marauder," an elite member of the Mobile Infantry (MI), a futuristic unit that served as the template for Halo's Orbital Drop Shock Troops (ODSTs). However, instead of facing off against the Covenant, the MI grunts must take on 19 different kinds of giant alien arachnids. The game will pick up five years after the events of the movie and will feature the voice talent of the film's star, Casper Van Dien.

　　Developed by British studio Strangelite, Starship Troopers tries to re-create the massive battles of the film by rendering swarms of more than 300 arachnids onscreen simultaneously. As outlined in GameSpot's single-player hands-on preview, the results can be pretty chaotic. To see for yourself, download the Starship Troopers demo.