Here's an idea for minerals in the next game: You spend credits to buy Shares in Mineral Mining Corporations. Every hour or whatever you get # of minerals * shares.
Or just disgusise and be able to "hire miners". You can do a pickup at any fuel station.
I have few ideas for the next game too.
-Mineral market has to be present,legal and black market,you can sell or buy minerals for credits
-You have mining crew and equipment-everything is upgradable
-When you are in orbit around some planet,you exit to the ship,you see that planet
-You can now scan entire visible surface of the planet in one sweep,different scan methods available,including visual with high level of zoom
-That gives you info about minerals detected and estimated quantity,terrain stability,etc
-Then you have a choice
-You can send your mining crew with some security for eventual protection or
-You can go with them,in a shuttle that you manually control
-You enter the atmosphere and land wherever you want
-Shuttle is equipped with sensors and can detect stuff that orbit scan cant
-If you go with them,there is a mining bonus,while they are mining you are free to go anywhere on foot or in a shuttle
-Shuttle caries a vehicle that can be used to reach places that are too far from landing zone
-You can leave them on the planet,but you cant leave the solar system,you have multiple and mining crew
-Shuttle is upgradable,like special shields that will allow you to land in gas giants,etc
-Some planets cant be scanned properly from the orbit
-Planets contain interesting things,unknown elements,unknown life forms,you can take them aboard,but beware there might be an "alien" somewhere
-Market prices go up and down,so if you are lucky...
