This proof-of-concept demonstrates the core extraction loop: move → lock a resource node → mine within range → watch the node deplete and cargo fill. It is intentionally single-screen, deterministic, and built for visual clarity.

Game mechanics

1) Movement

Controls: WASD / Arrow Keys
Behavior: direct movement (no inertia). The ship stays inside the playable area above the HUD strip.

2) Targeting

Hover: previews a node (no commitment).
Left-click: locks the target node.
Right-click / Esc: unlocks the target.

While a target is locked, all targeting readouts and mining checks reference that node only.

3) Mining

Hold Space to mine the locked target.
Mining only runs if all four gates are satisfied:
1. Target exists (you have a locked node)
2. In range (distance ≤ ship range ring)
3. Cargo not full (space remains in the hold)
4. Node not empty (remaining amount > 0)

If any gate fails, the beam is blocked and extraction is zero.

4) Extraction math (distance-only)

Extraction rate is deterministic and updates continuously.

Distance falloff: closer = faster (linear), with a minimum efficiency floor so it never becomes useless while in range.
Node difficulty: some resources mine slower than others (difficulty reduces effective rate).

5) Resource nodes

Each node shows:

Resource type (Ice / Ore / Rare)
Capacity (fixed per node)
Remaining amount (depletes as you mine)

The outer ring is the node’s remaining percentage; it drains as mining progresses. When empty, the node becomes inert.

6) Cargo hold behavior

Cargo is a shared capacity across all resources for this POC (one bar, multiple segments).
Cargo never overfills; if you hit the cap mid-beam, mining stops immediately.

7) Beam visuals

Mining uses a twin-rail tube beam:

Two parallel rails form a narrow “tube”
Particle/ember material flows up the center of the tube toward the ship
Resource type influences the beam/particle look

The 4 HUD elements

HUD 1 — Top-left Controls Card

Purpose: instant operational reference.

Shows:

Move: WASD / Arrows
Target: Hover + Click
Mine: Hold Space
Unlock: Right Click / Esc
Rule reminder: beam is distance-only and mining requires the gates to pass

This is the “how to drive it” panel.

HUD 2 — On-screen Target Tooltip (near the cursor / scene)

Purpose: low-latency targeting feedback.

Behavior:

When hovering: shows what node you’re pointing at.
When locked: confirms the locked node and shows resource type + remaining plus the “Hold Space to mine” reminder.

This is the “what am I interacting with right now” panel.

HUD 3 — Bottom-left: Cargo Hold Panel

Purpose: the payoff meter.

Contains:

Cargo bar: total fill vs capacity
Per-resource totals: Ice / Ore / Rare amounts accumulated
Extraction Rate: current units per second (only non-zero while mining)
Efficiency: current effective efficiency (distance falloff × difficulty)
Range and Distance: range limit and live distance to the locked node

This is the “am I gaining resources and how fast” panel.

HUD 4 — Bottom-middle + Bottom-right: Target Inspector + Beam Status

Bottom-middle: Target Inspector

Purpose: precise target state.

Shows, for the locked node:

Node ID
Resource type
Remaining
Capacity
Difficulty
Time to Empty (based on the current extraction rate)

This is the “what is this node and how long until it’s drained” panel.

Bottom-right: Beam Status

Purpose: explain mining state and failures.