System, network entity, client and method for facilitating fairness in a multiplayer game

A network entity for facilitating fairness in a multiplayer game, the game server comprising:

• a processor capable of at least partially operating a game application, the game application being capable of operating a multiplayer game played by a plurality of clients across at least one network, wherein the plurality of clients include a particular client and are each associated with a network latency, wherein the processor is also capable of operating a time-delay module,
• wherein the time-delay module is capable of receiving a data packet associated with the particular client during play of the multiplayer game, wherein the time-delay module is capable of delaying the data packet for at least a portion of a delay time associated with the particular client, the delay time being based upon the network latency of the particular client and an effective network latency set based upon the network latencies of the plurality of clients, and
• wherein the time-delay module is capable of passing the delayed data packet to one of the game application and the particular client.

A client for playing a multiplayer game, the client comprising:

• a processor capable of communicating with a game application during play of a multiplayer game played by at least one other client, each of the clients being associated with a network latency,
• wherein the processor is capable of communicating with the game application such that a time-delay module, disposed across the at least one network from the client, is capable of receiving a data packet associated with the client during play of the multiplayer game, such that the time-delay module is capable of delaying the data packet for at least a portion of a delay time associated with the client, the delay time being based upon the network latency of the client and an effective network latency set based upon the network latencies of the plurality of clients, and such that the time-delay module is capable of passing the delayed data packet to one of the game application and the client.