Elsewhere in the galaxy, different heroes had their mission. Released just seven months after Star Wars in 1977, Hardware Wars is the original science fiction spoof.

Tuesday, Feb. 16, Hardware Wars will be available to fans all over the world. Local company Apprehensive Films will release it for the first time on DVD.

Hardware Wars centers around the hero, Fluke Starbucker and his fight against evil and Darph Nader. Piloting a giant cassette tape, Starbucker leads the heroes away from evil. Ham Salad and Chewchilla join Starbucker and his fight against evil. From a basketball planet, Starbuckers flashlight (lightsaber) and flying bottle openers, Hardware Wars surprises viewers in every scene.

"I watched the film and I loved it," Apprehensive Films president Jonathan Morken said. "It was hugely popular in the late 70's and early 80's and I thought it could do well as an Anniversary package. The film is rebellious enough to fit on the Apprehensive Films label."

The Star Wars franchise has produced six feature-length movies, hundreds of books, countless merchandise and spoofs. San Francisco native Ernie Fosselius wrote and directed Hardware Wars by pooling friends' and family's money. The original version was only 13 minutes and cost $8,000 to make.

"Who doesn't love Star Wars?" asked Star Wars fan Jace Reed. "I grew up watching all of the movies. Hardware Wars is really funny. The low budget and cheap movie tricks make the movie so much better."

There is no hiding the small budget aspect of Hardware Wars. Shaky backdrops, '70s costumes and visible wires make the movie a fun watch. With characters like Fluke Starbucker to Augie Ben Doggie, the movie follows the real Star Wars plot lines.

Included on the 30th-anniversary release by Apprehensive Films are extra bonus features like Hardware Wars foreign spoofs and Fosselius' original cut.

Hardware Wars has won many awards all over the world, including Most Popular Short Film at the Chicago Film Festival.

The future of Apprehensive Films seems bright in the new year. Next up is, Orlok The Vampire in 3D, released in March.