Abstract: Systems for managing latency in networked competitive multiplayer gaming may include a latency management server that coordinates communications between game clients and game servers that enable a player to engage in a competitive multiplayer game, as well as other systems that balance the playing field, such as handicapping systems. Exemplary games may include, for example, first-person shooter games, real-time strategy games, fighting games, multiplayer online battle arena games, and the like. The latency management server may analyze network characteristics of the clients and servers and determine an appropriate server for each client or sets of clients. In some embodiments, the latency management server may add latency to particular communications to balance response times between all clients, provide a latency advantage to one or more clients, and the like. Scoring systems may implemented based on in-game actions, and scoring may be weighted based on latencies. Other implementations also are described.

Abstract: Systems for managing latency in networked competitive multiplayer gaming may include a latency management server that coordinates communications between game clients and game servers that enable a player to engage in a competitive multiplayer game, as well as other systems that balance the playing field, such as handicapping systems. Exemplary games may include, for example, first-person shooter games, real-time strategy games, fighting games, multiplayer online battle arena games, and the like. The latency management server may analyze network characteristics of the clients and servers and determine an appropriate server for each client or sets of clients. In some embodiments, the latency management server may add latency to particular communications to balance response times between all clients, provide a latency advantage to one or more clients, and the like. Scoring systems may implemented based on in-game actions, and scoring may be weighted based on latencies. Other implementations also are described.