In my 13 year old mind at the time, I figured it was a test to see how the idea of a prequel would play with audiences before Lucas would go on to do a Star Wars prequel that I was convinced would arrive in 1986.

Of course looking back now, I don't think anyone but us super nerd Starlog readers even realized TOD was a prequel.

At the time TOD was released, Spielberg mentioned that it was neither a sequel nor a prequel, saying the films were simply a series of adventures with the same character. He also explained the serials concept that he and Lucas grew up on.