Framerates: How low is too low?

[StuOhQ]

In most media, 12fps works as a bare minimum (some animation gets away with less). Games require much higher rates, depending on how important reaction time is. Turn based RPGS can typically be fairly low. Platforming, fighting, and shooting should really be as close to 60fps as possible.

Locked framerates are preferable, but a little variation is okay if it is seldom and allows the overall game to perform at a much higher rate. Example: 60fps with rare dips into the mid-to-low 50s is preferable to 30fps locked for most games.