FarmVille is a simulation game, developed by Zynga, and available through the social networking site, Facebook.com. Recently, a rumor was circulated amongst Facebook users and FarmVille players that the game would begin transitioning from Beta to a monthly subscription service available to users for a nominal fee of $5.99 per month.

The message circulated read: "ATTENTION: Zynga has announced that as of March 31, 2010 FarmVille will no longer be available in it's Beta version. The game will be available for a subscription FEE of $5.99 per month and will include additional levels above 70. If you care about FV, please put this as your status in protest."http://www.snopes.com/computer/internet/fbcharge.asp

With FarmVille enjoying great success as a free online game, with over 32 million users playing daily and over 110 million installs, users saw the plausibility of the game switching over from Beta to a subscription, or even console game.http://www.gamesradar.com/f/way-too-many-people-play-farmville/a-20100310144156293063 Fans of the game responded by continuously circulating the message calling for protest. Zynga came out publicly in February of 2010 to state that they would not be charging any fees for FarmVille, and that the game will stay in its current Beta stage, which it has been since June 2009.

Upon installing FarmVille, players must create a customizable avatar, or "farmer." There are a small plot of crops already in the process of growing, that allow users to immediately begin gameplay. The objective of the game is to earn FarmVille coins and cash and to gain experience (XP) points by: purchasing and selling items at the market; harvesting crops, trees, and animals, and by undertaking a number of tasks around the farm. The game adds a social networking aspect by allowing players to invite their friends to join them in the game as neighbors. In addition to the farm tasks, players can attempt to complete a series of collections and ribbons, awarded for achievements in certain tasks.http://fbgame.info/index.php/2010/04/farmville-gameplay/

Since the launch of Facebook.com in February of 2004, the site has been plagued with rumors of impending charges coming to users for continuous use of the site, and some of the games available.http://www.allfacebook.com/2010/01/again-facebook-will-not-charge-users-to-access-the-site/ One such rumor that gained popularity in 2009, is that Facebook would begin charging users for the continuous use of their profiles and access to the site. Thousands of users posted status updates calling for protest, and starting groups dedicated to preventing the charge from being instituted.http://www.allfacebook.com/2010/01/again-facebook-will-not-charge-users-to-access-the-site/