System and method for identifying locations for virtual items within a physical environment

A method of locating a virtual item, comprising:

• placing one or more interactive virtual items on a map of a virtual environment that parallels at least portions of a physical environment based at least on geographical information associated with the physical environment, the one or more interactive virtual items are initially placed using a pattern to disperse the one or more interactive virtual items within the virtual environment;
• receiving information associated with a plurality of users regarding user interaction with the one or more interactive virtual items, the information comprising physical locations of individual users when interacting with the one or more interactive virtual items, the one or more interactive virtual items having an associated physical location within the physical environment;
• aggregating the received information over time to determine an associated physical location within the physical environment for the virtual item;
• and
• within the virtual environment, placing the virtual item at the determined associated physical location.

A computer storage media storing computer-readable instructions that when executed cause a computing device to:

• place one or more interactive virtual items on a map of a virtual environment that parallels at least portions of a physical environment based at least on geographical information associated with the physical environment, the one or more interactive virtual items are initially placed using a pattern to disperse the one or more interactive virtual items within the virtual environment;
• receive information associated with a plurality of users regarding user interaction with the one or more interactive virtual items, the information comprising physical locations of individual users when interacting with the one or more interactive virtual items, the one or more interactive virtual items having an associated physical location within the physical environment;
• aggregate the received information over time to determine an associated physical location within the physical environment for a virtual item;
• and
• within the virtual environment, place the virtual item at the determined associated physical location.