Quote
JagOfTroy wrote:A bounty system would work but we'd need a way to make sure the individual got paid for his time if that is the point to it.
This issue is addressed in the building trade by having work done in stages. You trust the builder with enough money to dig the foundations, and when the foundations are done they get money for the walls, then the roof, then decorating etc. Similarly, most games are divided into stages, one way or another. If I was playing Ocarina of Time, for instance, I might do the Child Link stages, ask for a third of the bounty, then the Forest/Fire/Water temples, ask for another third, then finally do the Shadow/Spirit temples and Ganons' castle. I could thus minimise the time I wasted on a non-payment, and if I gave up halfway through then another player could take my saves and videos and continue.
Since the biggest problem is likely people who offer but have no intention to pay, making the first installment a small one (eg a buck for the Deku Tree) would filter out most of the bad offers and since a non serious offer would never result in a full longplay, people would post less non-serious bounties in the first place.
Making the bounty a matter between private individuals would be a lot easier for the site, with less legal liability. Escrow schemes and the like are a can of worms not worth opening IMO.