3DML
3DML is a format for creating three-dimensional websites build up by combining similar sized building blocks. It was invented in 1997 by Michael Powers and developed further by the Flatland team over the next four years. The 3DML block format has been popularized more recently in the blockbuster game called Minecraft. 3DML files are written in an XML syntax which can be delivered from standard web servers and shown within a browser plugin and independent 3DML browser called Flatland Rover. The last update was posted in spring 2005. There is only a plugin for Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator and AOL, but not for Mozilla Firefox.
A 3DML world is called a "Spot". In the spot "blocks" can be inserted, laid out in a grid. The blocks can be ordered into "levels" - each has the same size. This approach was designed to simplify the building process and comprehension of 3D pages. The following is an example of a full Spot description of a 3D room with walls.
<spot version="3.5"> <head> <debug /> <title name="Tall Spot" /> <blockset href="http://blocksets.flatland.com/flatsets/basic.bset"/> <map style="single" dimensions="(9,9,2)" /> <sky texture="images/clouds.gif" brightness="90%" /> <ground texture="images/dirt.gif" /> <ambient_light brightness="100%" /> <ambient_sound file="sounds/waves.wav" volume="65%" playback="looped"/> </head> <body> <level number="1"> ###...### #.......# #.......# #.......# #.......# #.......# #.......# #.......# ######### </level> <level number="2"> ###---### #-------# #-------# #-------# #-------# #-------# #-------# #-------# ######### </level> <entrance location="(5,8,1)" name="default" angle="0,0" /> </body> </spot>
You can navigate the spots by using either mouse or arrow keys.