There are people all over the world dying right now for lack of some small amount of food or medicine. What if you could click a button and send them a nickel to keep them alive a few more minutes? Like World Vision, but in a Philip K. Dick novel.
I just donated some money on Watsi. But I can't help but feel a bit uneasy about trusting them. After virtually ALL big Internet companies have been exposed as liars, whom can I trust?
I just hope the kid that I sent money to really exists and that he gets it.
As you say, it's still built on trust but I'd imagine pg is keeping a watchful eye.
It's basically contextual ad-supported donations. Check it out!
This game seemed to work because players formed some sort of personal connection with "the girl". Less "do a good deed" and more "we've got to save her!". There's a huge difference. That's why I mentioned World Vision. It would let people forge an actual connection with the being on the other end of it... and mourn when they die.