Abstract: A computer implemented method to characterize virtual goods in a virtual environment includes identifying an item exchange in the virtual environment. The context of the item exchange is recorded to characterize details of the virtual environment at the time of the item exchange. The context of the item exchange is added to a repository of contexts characterizing contexts from a number of item exchanges. A request to search for a virtual item is received. The virtual item is matched to a set of items in the repository. The set of items are presented in response to the request.