The
rate at which your
computer can
render the grahpics a
program wants you to see, usually quoted in
reference to
computer movies and
games. Also called
FPS (not to be mistaken for
first person shooter, this means
frames per
second).
Framerate is of utmost importance to action games (that includes all FPS) because it makes hitscan weapons (guns that hit immediately, such as the sniper rifle and the rail gun) that easier to kill people with. Lack of framerate is a source of anguish for gamers who despair at the cost of another upgrade or *shudder* a new computer.
DMan's reaction is usually a loud scream of rage and hopelessness followed by the declaration I can never ride the bleeding edge of technology! It sucks to lose because of your shitty computer.