Great post riddar!
It's good to see you making a thread with some helpful advice and trying to help others. I knew you had some use in ya
IDK if i'd agree with doing every MMO idea you read but the interns opportunity is a great one, and yeah it definitely helps having a brick n mortar. It also helps if you know some of the local college kids because they aren't always looking for something directly in their field. Most are looking for something that'll be easy, get them credit, give them plenty of time off for summer fun, and will give them a good reference in the end. In the past my office has cut deals with friends of ours at the college where they can just put in the minimal hours and we'll sign off on more which spread the word and we got so swarmed with ppl wanting to intern with us we have to turn down a lot because our office isn't big enough. It's a great way to get some bitch work done but i wouldn't give them projects to complete on their own unless you don't want those projects to be completed in the end and you want to get harassed a ton while they attempt to make them work.
A really great bitchwork job you can give them is to write articles for your sites. This works particularly well for journalism and communication majors who not only enjoy it and will put in more hours but can get a direct job experience and reference out of it. Plus interns are great because even though they can be a pain in the ass to manage you never have to fire them. You just tell them, "Look you're doing a shitty job. From now on just bring me a case of beer a week, we'll call it even, and I'll sign off on your papers so you don't have to show up anymore."