If i may add a slightly less serious approach (but possibly one that has higher chance..), is to get away from the 'job-like' game you have, and move more towards something like a 'perl olympics'. I.E. everyone would get the same project/requirements, then you could get a gold metal in various categories like: Obfu'ed(obviously..), shortest(golf), best commented, fastest turn in, best design, etc etc. While this is less of a 'real project simulation', i think it would be a lot more fun, and thus inspire more people to actually play.