Sources tell VentureBeat that Maestri's Mob Wars, a role-playing game for the Facebook platform, earns its creator $1 million a month off its 2,505,698 monthly active users, mostly by selling in-game player upgrades for real world cash. On top of that income, research firm DeveloperAnalytics says Mob Wars could make another $22,000 month selling ads because its users load the app's pages around 60 times a day.

Trouble is, Maestri developed and launched Mob Wars in January, before quit software developer Freewebs in February. After watching Maestri rake in the cash for months, Freewebs — now called Social Games Network — finally sued Maestri on August 11, alleging breach of contract, breach of duty, misappropriation of trade secrets and interference with business relations. Maestri told VentureBeat that "Mob Wars is my creation and the legal process is moving forward."

VCs already were asking why should I not worry about Facebook copying [your widgets]. But it was a theoretical question. Now, it is practical and amplified. I think that Facebook has really killed the potential for investment in the platform or the attractiveness to entrepreneurs. I am unaware of a single VC investment in a Facebook app company post the new regime (Sheryl, Elliot, policy enforcement). and now this will definitely affect matters. The last two VC investments I believe were Friends For Sale and SGN [Social Gaming Network] — doubt either investor is happy nor would they do the same deal again.

If our widgetmaker source is correct, it is bad news for at least two Facebook hangers-on — Zynga, a widgetmaker and SocialMedia, an ad-network for Facebook widgetmakers. Both are trying to prove him wrong by raising a new round of financing.

A source tells us SocialMedia founder Seth Goldstein spent last week in New York trying to raise $20 million. A VC in the community confirms he's recently heard Goldstein's pitch. Goldstein himself tells us, "We're talking to investors," but he wouldn't confirm the terms.

Zynga, which in January raised $10 million in funding from Union Square Ventures, Peter Thiel, Reid Hoffman, and Bob Pittman, is said to have hired a bank in order to find more funding.

Goldstein says that those worried about worried whether Facebook's aggressive moves against Slide will stunt VC investment in startup widgetmakers should worry about top widgetmakers like Slide or its closest rival, RockYou, instead.

These guys wanted to believe there wouldn't be a long tail of apps on the Facebook platform. But Facebook wants lots of little apps relevant to lots of little groups. Two guys from Estonia will be able to beat a team of 45 top flight engineers. Facebook doesn't want three major developers taking over the platform like some kind of CBS, NBC and ABC. Top Facebook apps aren't all going to be made South of Market.

Remember, Goldstein's a Facebook bull because his business depends on it. But one way to read his comment is as a confirmation that no one — including VCs — should expect widgetmakers to turn into large media companies. There may be a future on the Facebook platform, but last year's frenzy that once led HotorNot founder James Hong to declare the Facebook platform "the new Internet"? It's over.