Here's some interesting tidbits about Xbox 360 hardware development.
quote:
Microsoft began the Xbox 360 project in late 2002.
- In 2003, Microsoft decided it wanted to launch its next-generation console before Sony.
- IBM put 400 engineers to develop the Xbox 360 CPU.
- IBM taped out (finished the design) of the CPU in December 2004.
- ATI put 300 engineers to developer the Xbox 360 GPU, aka Xenos.
- ATI finished its GPU design on November 2004.
- Todd Holmdahl, who we interviewed here, came up with the idea of changing the manufacturing scheme. Now Microsoft will acquire IP instead of buying parts.
- More than 1,000 engineers worked under the leadership of Todd Holmdahl.
- There are more 10,000 people working to make sure the Xbox 360 arrives on time in November.