This is purely academic.
Before anyone start with the 24fps in film vs 30/60 fps, in game, I get the conclusion out of the gate first before explaining.
Its not the same!
Films are able to capture even very fast action sequence, with 24fps, is due to a well known effect, called motion blur. The same effect when you take a photo with a slow shutter speed, on a fast moving target.
A picture to explain. This is what a frame on a film looks like on fast moving subjects. In fact, you can even estimate the speed of action by measuring the distance of the blurring over 1/24 of a sec.
This explain why you do not get a headache when you watch a fast moving sequences. The burring ease the brain from overworking to visualize the action between frames.
You can try this at home. Watch a video with at least one fast moving sequences
(someone running, or car chase), then pause the video. Notice the blurring. Try again on a slow sequences (say conversation between 2 people), Notice the burring, or lack of)
Below is a frame of Halo. No blurring effect, like 99% of game, as well as traditional hand drawn animation.
hence the faster the action, the more space between frame, that the brain need to fill the brain to subconsciously visualize what happen between frame. This explain why you feel dizzy when you play a game that change too fast, or have low FPS when the action is fast. Your brain is working too hard to digest and interpret the actions between frames.
With this knowledge now, you can then further understand why certain games requires higher FPS, while others need not.
On say a 3rd person game for instead, the environment does not moved that much, only the characters, hence a lower frame is normally ok. On a first person shooter, where the environment moves with your moment, teh brain have to take in more details, hence a higher frame rate may be required. The same goes with racing, especially in cokcpit view.
Hope is piece of information is helpful.
