As far as I am concerned, the engine operates on the same time plane as the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which roughly is:
Anything that happens, happens.
Anything that, in happening, causes something else to happen, causes it to happen.
Anything that, in happening, causes itself to happen again, happens again.
It doesn't always do so in chronological order.
You're getting all philosophical on us, hrudey.
... hopefully someday ...
Ah, yes, the story of Buzzerbeater in just two words.