For how long would the light continue on its pattern, and when was it told by the program to move along to another pattern? Why couldn't they write longer patterns?
For most of the run, each pattern was 18 frames long; namely, it would hit every square on the PYL board exactly once, and then a new pattern was selected. Earlier episodes were more clunky in that the same pattern would repeat a few times and then abruptly switch to one of the other patterns, I think after a certain amount of time had passed.
I don't know why they didn't write longer patterns, or heck, just make the indicator light go much faster (like on Second Chance); both of these (barring an essentially random code) would have probably prevented contestants like Larson. I chalk this up to part laziness, part they truly didn't think anyone would crack the code and would be able to get the timing down with lights and actual money on the line.
Concerning $ale, the indicator light moved, at least to my eyes, much faster, and didn't seem to hit all 9 spots before repeating a pattern. But, I would think, even *if* someone could crack the code to the Fame Game board, unlike on PYL, there's no guarantee you win the game. You still have to answer Fame Game questions right, and, even if you were perfect on that, you'd earn a max of $50 score money (assuming no bargains/Instant Cash). That's a decent amount, but a good speed round player could still beat you. Thus, the amount of time spent learning the patterns/getting the timing down would probably be better spent on studying trivia, IMO.
Anthony
