Darkness is actually FASTER than the speed of light. Yes, weird I know.
A flashing star could be a variable. There are a few different types. Cepheid tend to be highly predictable in period, and are used as distance measuring beacons for far away galaxies (their variability period is directly proportional to it's luminosity, and when you know it's luminosity, you can measure it's distance). There are irregular variables. Long and short period variables. It could also be a pulsar (a type of neutron star). Some flashing stars at a far distance are caused by two close pairs in orbit around one another. Where one essentially eclipses the other causing a visible reduction in luminosity.
The star R designation in the star shows it is a variable. That star specifically (the R Coronae type) I believe is of a rare 'old' type of star, which may be a remnant of a mature/evolved star. They tend to 'smoke' which creates an outer carbon layer which can obscure the star for a time until it is blown off, and the cycle repeats. The carbon cloud in a sense obscures the brightness for a time. I don't believe such stars flash all that quickly however... so the game may not be accurate in that aspect.
Most variables tend to have a period to them... hours, days, weeks months or years. Very short pulsing in a variable is not typica, and if it did, it would probably be highly unstable (near death?). Variability is also in all directions as viewed by the star. Pulsars are more like stellar 'lighthouses', where a beam spins around on a given axis. Just like a lighthouse. However you don't want to be in the path of that beam. Think massively energetic, enough to instantly scorch an Earth if it happened to be in the beam's path. A being in that path would just go 'poof'. Put mildly.
Enough for today's less. Class dismissed. LOL. Sorry about that. I studied this stuff at university, while I don't work in the field, its more of a hobby.
but I'd like to see a video when you suss it out.
