diff --git a/src/playground/index.html b/src/playground/index.html
index 5f293e9b4..2d2f1698c 100644
--- a/src/playground/index.html
+++ b/src/playground/index.html
@@ -53,9 +53,9 @@
             <button id="projectLoadButton">Load</button>
             <button id="createEmptyProject">New Project</button><br />
             <p>
-                <input type="button" value="Export to XML" onclick="toXml()">
+                <input type="button" value="Export to JSON" onclick="toJson()">
                 &nbsp;
-                <input type="button" value="Import from XML" onclick="fromXml()" id="import">
+                <input type="button" value="Import from JSON" onclick="fromJson()" id="import">
                 <br /><br />
                 <textarea id="importExport"></textarea>
             </p>
@@ -71,18 +71,17 @@
     <!-- Playground -->
     <script src="./playground.js"></script>
     <script>
-        function toXml() {
+        function toJson() {
             var output = document.getElementById('importExport');
-            var xml = Blockly.Xml.workspaceToDom(Scratch.workspace);
-            output.value = Blockly.Xml.domToPrettyText(xml);
+            var json = window.vm.toPrettyJSON(Scratch.workspace);
+            output.value = json;
             output.focus();
             output.select();
           }
 
-          function fromXml() {
+          function fromJson() {
             var input = document.getElementById('importExport');
-            var xml = Blockly.Xml.textToDom(input.value);
-            Blockly.Xml.domToWorkspace(Scratch.workspace, xml);
+            window.vm.fromJSON(input.value);
           }
     </script>
 </body>
diff --git a/src/import/sb2import.js b/src/serialization/sb2.js
similarity index 99%
rename from src/import/sb2import.js
rename to src/serialization/sb2.js
index 4abd6230b..53a7cfc4d 100644
--- a/src/import/sb2import.js
+++ b/src/serialization/sb2.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const Sprite = require('../sprites/sprite');
 const Color = require('../util/color');
 const log = require('../util/log');
 const uid = require('../util/uid');
-const specMap = require('./sb2specmap');
+const specMap = require('./sb2_specmap');
 const Variable = require('../engine/variable');
 const List = require('../engine/list');
 
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ const parseScratchObject = function (object, runtime, topLevel) {
  */
 const sb2import = function (json, runtime, optForceSprite) {
     return parseScratchObject(
-        JSON.parse(json),
+        json,
         runtime,
         !optForceSprite
     );
@@ -470,4 +470,6 @@ const parseBlock = function (sb2block) {
     return activeBlock;
 };
 
-module.exports = sb2import;
+module.exports = {
+    deserialize: sb2import
+};
diff --git a/src/import/sb2specmap.js b/src/serialization/sb2_specmap.js
similarity index 100%
rename from src/import/sb2specmap.js
rename to src/serialization/sb2_specmap.js
diff --git a/src/serialization/sb3.js b/src/serialization/sb3.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7543b4cd1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/serialization/sb3.js
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+/**
+ * @fileoverview
+ * Partial implementation of a SB3 serializer and deserializer. Parses provided
+ * JSON and then generates all needed scratch-vm runtime structures.
+ */
+
+var package = require('../../package.json');
+var Blocks = require('../engine/blocks');
+var RenderedTarget = require('../sprites/rendered-target');
+var Sprite = require('../sprites/sprite');
+var Variable = require('../engine/variable');
+var List = require('../engine/list');
+
+/**
+ * Serializes the specified VM runtime.
+ * @param  {!Runtime} runtime VM runtime instance to be serialized.
+ * @return {string}    Serialized runtime instance.
+ */
+var serialize = function (runtime) {
+    // Fetch targets
+    var obj = Object.create(null);
+    obj.targets = runtime.targets;
+
+    // Assemble metadata
+    var meta = Object.create(null);
+    meta.semver = '3.0.0';
+    meta.vm = package.version;
+
+    // Attach full user agent string to metadata if available
+    meta.agent = null;
+    if (typeof navigator !== 'undefined') meta.agent = navigator.userAgent;
+
+    // Assemble payload and return
+    obj.meta = meta;
+    return obj;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Parse a single "Scratch object" and create all its in-memory VM objects.
+ * @param {!Object} object From-JSON "Scratch object:" sprite, stage, watcher.
+ * @param {!Runtime} runtime Runtime object to load all structures into.
+ * @return {?Target} Target created (stage or sprite).
+ */
+var parseScratchObject = function (object, runtime) {
+    if (!object.hasOwnProperty('name')) {
+        // Watcher/monitor - skip this object until those are implemented in VM.
+        // @todo
+        return;
+    }
+    // Blocks container for this object.
+    var blocks = new Blocks();
+
+    // @todo: For now, load all Scratch objects (stage/sprites) as a Sprite.
+    var sprite = new Sprite(blocks, runtime);
+
+    // Sprite/stage name from JSON.
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('name')) {
+        sprite.name = object.name;
+    }
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('blocks')) {
+        for (blockId in object.blocks) {
+            blocks.createBlock(object.blocks[blockId]);
+        }
+        console.log(blocks);
+    }
+    // Costumes from JSON.
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('costumes') || object.hasOwnProperty('costume')) {
+        for (var i = 0; i < object.costumeCount; i++) {
+            var costume = object.costumes[i];
+            // @todo: Make sure all the relevant metadata is being pulled out.
+            sprite.costumes.push({
+                skin: costume.skin,
+                name: costume.name,
+                bitmapResolution: costume.bitmapResolution,
+                rotationCenterX: costume.rotationCenterX,
+                rotationCenterY: costume.rotationCenterY
+            });
+        }
+    }
+    // Sounds from JSON
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('sounds')) {
+        for (var s = 0; s < object.sounds.length; s++) {
+            var sound = object.sounds[s];
+            sprite.sounds.push({
+                format: sound.format,
+                fileUrl: sound.fileUrl,
+                rate: sound.rate,
+                sampleCount: sound.sampleCount,
+                soundID: sound.soundID,
+                name: sound.name,
+                md5: sound.md5
+            });
+        }
+    }
+    // Create the first clone, and load its run-state from JSON.
+    var target = sprite.createClone();
+    // Add it to the runtime's list of targets.
+    runtime.targets.push(target);
+    // Load target properties from JSON.
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('variables')) {
+        for (var j = 0; j < object.variables.length; j++) {
+            var variable = object.variables[j];
+            target.variables[variable.name] = new Variable(
+                variable.name,
+                variable.value,
+                variable.isPersistent
+            );
+        }
+    }
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('lists')) {
+        for (var k = 0; k < object.lists.length; k++) {
+            var list = object.lists[k];
+            // @todo: monitor properties.
+            target.lists[list.listName] = new List(
+                list.listName,
+                list.contents
+            );
+        }
+    }
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('x')) {
+        target.x = object.x;
+    }
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('y')) {
+        target.y = object.y;
+    }
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('direction')) {
+        target.direction = object.direction;
+    }
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('size')) {
+        target.size = object.size;
+    }
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('visible')) {
+        target.visible = object.visible;
+    }
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('currentCostume')) {
+        target.currentCostume = object.currentCostume;
+    }
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('rotationStyle')) {
+        target.rotationStyle = object.rotationStyle;
+    }
+    if (object.hasOwnProperty('isStage')) {
+        target.isStage = object.isStage;
+    }
+    target.updateAllDrawableProperties();
+
+    console.log("returning target:");
+    console.log(target);
+    return target;
+};
+
+/**
+ * Deserializes the specified representation of a VM runtime and loads it into
+ * the provided runtime instance.
+ * @param  {string}  json    Stringified JSON representation of a VM runtime.
+ * @param  {Runtime} runtime Runtime instance
+ */
+var deserialize = function (json, runtime) {
+    for (var i = 0; i < json.targets.length; i++) {
+        parseScratchObject(json.targets[i], runtime);
+    }
+};
+
+module.exports = {
+    serialize: serialize,
+    deserialize: deserialize
+};
diff --git a/src/sprites/rendered-target.js b/src/sprites/rendered-target.js
index e6323ec73..9880d4750 100644
--- a/src/sprites/rendered-target.js
+++ b/src/sprites/rendered-target.js
@@ -765,7 +765,7 @@ class RenderedTarget extends Target {
 
     /**
      * Serialize sprite info, used when emitting events about the sprite
-     * @returns {object} sprite data as a simple object
+     * @returns {object} Sprite data as a simple object
      */
     toJSON () {
         return {
@@ -778,11 +778,14 @@ class RenderedTarget extends Target {
             direction: this.direction,
             draggable: this.draggable,
             costume: this.getCurrentCostume(),
-            costumes: this.getCostumes(),
-            sounds: this.getSounds(),
             costumeCount: this.getCostumes().length,
             visible: this.visible,
-            rotationStyle: this.rotationStyle
+            rotationStyle: this.rotationStyle,
+            blocks: this.blocks._blocks,
+            variables: this.variables,
+            lists: this.lists,
+            costumes: this.getCostumes(),
+            sounds: this.getSounds()
         };
     }
 
diff --git a/src/virtual-machine.js b/src/virtual-machine.js
index 8e4e9bcfe..a69539a06 100644
--- a/src/virtual-machine.js
+++ b/src/virtual-machine.js
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ const EventEmitter = require('events');
 
 const log = require('./util/log');
 const Runtime = require('./engine/runtime');
-const sb2import = require('./import/sb2import');
+const sb2 = require('./serialization/sb2');
+const sb3 = require('./serialization/sb3');
 const StringUtil = require('./util/string-util');
 
 const loadCostume = require('./import/load-costume.js');
@@ -144,7 +145,7 @@ class VirtualMachine extends EventEmitter {
      */
     loadProject (json) {
         // @todo: Handle other formats, e.g., Scratch 1.4, Scratch 3.0.
-        return sb2import(json, this.runtime).then(targets => {
+        return this.fromJSON(json, this.runtime).then(targets => {
             this.clear();
             for (let n = 0; n < targets.length; n++) {
                 if (targets[n] !== null) {
@@ -179,20 +180,72 @@ class VirtualMachine extends EventEmitter {
         });
     }
 
+    /**
+     * return a project in a Scratch 3.0 JSON representation.
+     */
+    saveProjectSb3 () {
+        // @todo: Handle other formats, e.g., Scratch 1.4, Scratch 2.0.
+        return this.toJSON();
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Export project as a Scratch 3.0 JSON representation.
+     * @return {string} Serialized state of the runtime.
+     */
+    toJSON () {
+        return JSON.stringify(sb3.serialize(this.runtime));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Load a project from a Scratch JSON representation.
+     * @param {string} json JSON string representing a project.
+     */
+    fromJSON (json) {
+        // Clear the current runtime
+        this.clear();
+
+        // Validate & parse
+        if (typeof json !== 'string') return;
+        json = JSON.parse(json);
+        if (typeof json !== 'object') return;
+
+        // Establish version, deserialize, and load into runtime
+        // @todo Support Scratch 1.4
+        // @todo This is an extremely naïve / dangerous way of determining version.
+        //       See `scratch-parser` for a more sophisticated validation
+        //       methodology that should be adapted for use here
+        if ((typeof json.meta !== 'undefined') && (typeof json.meta.semver !== 'undefined') ) {
+            sb3.deserialize(json, this.runtime);
+        } else {
+            sb2.deserialize(json, this.runtime);
+        }
+
+        // Select the first target for editing, e.g., the first sprite.
+        this.editingTarget = this.runtime.targets[1];
+
+        // Update the VM user's knowledge of targets and blocks on the workspace.
+        this.emitTargetsUpdate();
+        this.emitWorkspaceUpdate();
+        this.runtime.setEditingTarget(this.editingTarget);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Add a single sprite from the "Sprite2" (i.e., SB2 sprite) format.
      * @param {string} json JSON string representing the sprite.
      */
     addSprite2 (json) {
     // Select new sprite.
-        sb2import(json, this.runtime, true).then(targets => {
-            this.runtime.targets.push(targets[0]);
-            this.editingTarget = targets[0];
+        this.editingTarget = sb2.deserialize(json, this.runtime, true);
+        /* @todo Promisify this
+            .then(targets => {
+                this.runtime.targets.push(targets[0]);
+                this.editingTarget = targets[0];
+            })
+        */
         // Update the VM user's knowledge of targets and blocks on the workspace.
-            this.emitTargetsUpdate();
-            this.emitWorkspaceUpdate();
-            this.runtime.setEditingTarget(this.editingTarget);
-        });
+        this.emitTargetsUpdate();
+        this.emitWorkspaceUpdate();
+        this.runtime.setEditingTarget(this.editingTarget);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/test/unit/serialization_sb2.js b/test/unit/serialization_sb2.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..530311d33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/serialization_sb2.js
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+var path = require('path');
+var test = require('tap').test;
+var extract = require('../fixtures/extract');
+
+var renderedTarget = require('../../src/sprites/rendered-target');
+var runtime = require('../../src/engine/runtime');
+var sb2 = require('../../src/serialization/sb2');
+
+test('spec', function (t) {
+    t.type(sb2, 'object');
+    t.type(sb2.deserialize, 'function');
+    t.end();
+});
+
+test('default', function (t) {
+    // Get SB2 JSON (string)
+    var uri = path.resolve(__dirname, '../fixtures/default.sb2');
+    var file = extract(uri);
+
+    // Create runtime instance & load SB2 into it
+    var rt = new runtime();
+    sb2.deserialize(file, rt);
+
+    // Test
+    t.type(file, 'string');
+    t.type(rt, 'object');
+    t.type(rt.targets, 'object');
+
+    t.ok(rt.targets[0] instanceof renderedTarget);
+    t.type(rt.targets[0].id, 'string');
+    t.type(rt.targets[0].blocks, 'object');
+    t.type(rt.targets[0].variables, 'object');
+    t.type(rt.targets[0].lists, 'object');
+
+    t.equal(rt.targets[0].isOriginal, true);
+    t.equal(rt.targets[0].currentCostume, 0);
+    t.equal(rt.targets[0].isOriginal, true);
+    t.equal(rt.targets[0].isStage, true);
+
+    t.ok(rt.targets[1] instanceof renderedTarget);
+    t.type(rt.targets[1].id, 'string');
+    t.type(rt.targets[1].blocks, 'object');
+    t.type(rt.targets[1].variables, 'object');
+    t.type(rt.targets[1].lists, 'object');
+
+    t.equal(rt.targets[1].isOriginal, true);
+    t.equal(rt.targets[1].currentCostume, 0);
+    t.equal(rt.targets[1].isOriginal, true);
+    t.equal(rt.targets[1].isStage, false);
+    t.end();
+});
diff --git a/test/unit/serialization_sb3.js b/test/unit/serialization_sb3.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ec56284d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/serialization_sb3.js
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+var test = require('tap').test;
+var VirtualMachine = require('../../src/index');
+var sb3 = require('../../src/serialization/sb3');
+
+test('serialize', function (t) {
+    var vm = new VirtualMachine();
+    vm.fromJSON(JSON.stringify(require('../fixtures/demo.json')));
+    var result = sb3.serialize(vm.runtime);
+    console.dir(JSON.stringify(result));
+    // @todo Analyize
+    t.end();
+});
+
+test('deserialize', function (t) {
+    var vm = new VirtualMachine();
+    var result = sb3.deserialize('', vm.runtime);
+    // @todo Analyize
+    t.end();
+});