rubberbanding

[ruhb-er-ban-ding]

noun

(in online video games) the backward popping of characters in motion to their recently occupied spaces that results from high latency in the network connection.

an aspect of game design that restrains the margin between the winning and losing players, either by awarding bonuses to the weakest player or handicapping the player in first place.

Origin of rubberbanding

1995–2000; by analogy to the stretching and contracting of a rubber band