Abstract: A system configured to provide one or more virtual spaces that are accessible to users. The system may implement a markup language to communicate information between various components. The markup language may enable the communication of information between components of the system via markup elements. A markup element may include a discrete unit of information that includes both content and attributes associated with the content. The implementation of the markup language may enable the instantiation of virtual spaces, and the conveyance to users of views of an instantiated virtual space via a distributed architecture in which the components (e.g., a server capable of instantiating virtual spaces, and a client capable of providing an interface between a user and a virtual space) are capable of providing virtual spaces with a broader range of characteristics than components in conventional systems capable of providing virtual spaces that are accessible to users.

Abstract: A system configured to provide one or more virtual spaces that are accessible to users. A given virtual space may include a plurality of places. Individual places within the virtual space may have spatial boundaries. The places may be differentiated from each other in that a set of parameters and/or characteristics of a given one of the places may be different than the set(s) of parameters and/or characteristics that correspond to other places in the virtual space. The sonic characteristics of the virtual space may be determined according to a hierarchy of acoustic areas within the virtual space.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a view of a virtual space to a user in a banner ad of a webpage. This enables an advertiser to provide content that is not merely static or scripted, but instead enabled provision of content through a web ad that represents activity within a virtual space (e.g., interactions of other users with the virtual space, content that changes based on current or recent events, etc.) in real time (or near real time). The provision of a virtual space in a web ad may be more effective than conventional web ad content.