so I get the basic idea of the matrix, namely, taking Williams system 11 as example you have 8 columns and 8 rows so you can control 64 lamps with 16 transistors. Clever idea - 8 transistors pulsing the voltage to the columns and another 8 pulsing the connection to the ground. So let‘s say the game wants to light lamp 17 (column 1 and row 3) and lamp 3 (column 3 and row 1). So the transistors in columns 1 and 3 close and the transistors in rows 1 and 3 close and lamps 17 and 3 light up.

But what I can‘t quite figure out is lamp 1 (column 1 and row 1) and lamp 19 (row 3 and column 3) will also light up, right ? What if these lamps need to stay off ?

My guess is the transistors at column 1 and row 3 and at column 3 and row 1 are pulsing in sync, but 1 and 1 and 3 and 3 are out of sync, but I still struggle with this because with 8 rows and 8 columns the game has to keep track of which rows and columns need to be in sync and which not, which seems rather complicated.

looking forward to your insight and a lamp going off in my head...