The Truth About FPS

[The Joker]

I wrote this article because I am vehemently against developers and console makers stating that 30 FPS is good enough, many of whom are borderline lying to everyone when they start mentioning science or numbers. The truth is, we all need a little more education about these frame rate numbers, why more is usually always better, why less can be bad, and more importantly: remove FUD.

Note: I am a nobody, don't take anything you read here as a gospel. Look it up yourself.

Let's start with handling where some of these numbers actually came from.

Small little test to see the difference.
http://www.30vs60fps.com/

The article is long and incredibly in-depth, definitely worth the read though.
http://www.overclock.net/a/the-truth-about-fps

 

[Lycanthrope]

 

[DarthMol]

Small little test to see the difference.
http://www.30vs60fps.com/

Admittedly when I first looked I didn't immediately notice the difference but then when the difference in smoothness became clear I couldn't not notice it anymore.

 

[Mister 44]

Good read.
Some of the review sites I have frequented also state that 30FPS average is a BARE MINIMUM when they test new graphics cards with games. The story usually goes: "It's playable at 30FPS average but more responsive @ 50-60FPS average". The logic being that with a 30FPS average your frames may drop very low in some parts and pick up on others. With 60FPS, the minimums are not that noticeable.

 

[Hagan]

The Truth About FPS is.. Games are NOT Movies! Period.

 

[Lycanthrope]

The Truth About FPS is.. Games are NOT Movies! Period.

Even movies aren't "movies" by the standards set by the likes of Ubisoft--24fps only became the cinematic standard because it was perceived as visually faster (higher cinematic frame-rates cause 'slow-motion' effects due to so many frames forced into a second).

Arguing that slower visual feedback (lower frame-rates in the case of gaming) = more cinematic is actually hugely erroneous and outright bull.

Games become choppier, not smoother, the lower their frame-rate, contrary to cinematography where lower framerates make visual feedback more lifelike (read: faster).

But we've had this conversation before and somehow it still seems to go over heads.... So whatever.

 

[Tom]

That test makes it instantly clear what an incredible difference it actually makes...

Gona give the article a read tonight when i have more time...

 

[GReeN_ORB]

Good read. If you people hear/see someone saying stuff like '30 fps is better', tell them to stop drinking the Koolaid, and go read this article.

 

[Mike45]

Interesting article, definitely cool to see the comparison of 60 vs 30. Although it almost made me dizzy haha.

 

[Colonel Polar-Bear]

I think if the player was to turn slower you'll probably not notice the difference? I've never fancied playing games below 60 FPS and always argued that it is noticeable, whether that is via the eye or the game engine.

It is also a whole new ball game if we look at framerate-dependent physics engines. I am specifically referring to the Quake engine and even Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.