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Ixo (company)

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Ixo
Company typePublic
IndustryPublishing, web content
Founded2000
Defunct2004
HeadquartersFrance
Key people
Christophe Sapet

Ixo (sometimes stylized as IXO) was a French media conglomerate established in September 2000 as a corporate spin-off of the company InfoSources.[1] It was led by businessman Christophe Sapet,[2][3] co-founder of Infogrames.[2]

InfoSources, which Sapet had started as an Internet service provider in 1995,[2] had branched increasingly into content creation since 1998, and had purchased the magazine publishers Pressimage [fr] and Freeway in April 2000. As a result, its holdings included a number of youth-oriented magazines and web portals, such as ZoneJeuX.[4] As part of InfoSources' merger with Belgacom, its content division was split off as Ixo, which successfully went public in December 2000.[5][6]

Ixo became the French publisher of Rolling Stone in 2002.[7] That same year, Ixo began a rebranding effort to target "urban machismo" in its publications.[8] Following a years-long series of setbacks that Stratégies described as a "descent into hell",[9] Ixo filed for bankruptcy in January 2004.[10] Its magazine publishing division was sold off piecemeal to companies such as Cyber Press Publishing and Tests Group as the year progressed. Because it was sold in pieces, over 100 Ixo employees were laid off.[11] The liquidation of Ixo was announced in July 2004, after the firm was unable to find a buyer for the remainder of its business.[12]

History and operations

[edit]

IXO's origins trace back to InfoSources, an Internet service provider founded by Sapet in 1995. InfoSources gradually expanded into content creation from 1998 onwards, making significant acquisitions in April 2000, including magazine publishers Pressimage and Freeway. This broadened its portfolio to include a variety of youth-oriented magazines and web portals, notably "ZoneJeuX."[^1]

In December 2000, as part of InfoSources' merger with Belgacom, its content division was spun off and rebranded as IXO. The newly formed company successfully went public in the same month, marking a significant milestone in its early development.[^2]

IXO further diversified its media holdings, becoming the French publisher of the renowned music magazine Rolling Stone in 2002.[^3] That same year, IXO embarked on a rebranding initiative aimed at targeting "urban machismo" in its publications, seeking to carve out a distinct identity in the competitive media landscape.[^4]

One of IXO's notable ventures was its role as the publisher of the video game magazine GameLive PC. This magazine began circulating in Spain in October 2000, achieving an average circulation of 30,000 copies per issue during its initial two years, according to France's Circulation Audit Office.[^5] By 2002, IXO claimed GameLive PC was Spain's second-largest computer game magazine.[^5] A French edition of GameLive PC launched on March 29, 2003, initially as a quarterly publication.[^6] Following its third issue, it transitioned to a monthly schedule in France, by which time its national circulation had reportedly reached 60,000 copies.[^7] The magazine garnered positive reviews from outlets like MeriStation and VidaExtra, with critics praising its quality and influence.[^8][^9] Each issue of GameLive PC notably featured the full version of a video game included as a pack-in CD-ROM.[^10] The Spanish edition of the magazine ceased publication suddenly in December 2004, after 45 issues, amidst a broader trend of closures in Spain's print game magazine industry.[^11][^12] Several key members of the GameLive PC team subsequently went on to found the magazine PC Life.[^13]

Decline and liquidation

[edit]

Despite its initial public offering and strategic acquisitions, IXO experienced a prolonged period of difficulties, described by the publication Stratégies as a "descent into hell."[^14] These setbacks ultimately led to IXO filing for bankruptcy in January 2004.[^15] As the year progressed, its magazine publishing division was sold off piecemeal to various companies, including Cyber Press Publishing and Tests Group. This fragmented sale resulted in the layoff of over 100 IXO employees.[^16] The complete liquidation of IXO was announced in July 2004, as the firm was unable to secure a buyer for the remaining parts of its business.[^17]

Distinction from Ixo Models

[edit]

It is important to note that the media conglomerate IXO (defunct 2004) is distinct from Ixo Models, a die-cast model manufacturer. Ixo Models is a brand of Premium & Collectibles Trading Co. Ltd. (PCT), founded in Macau in 1999.[^18] Ixo Models specializes in the design and manufacture of highly detailed die-cast and resin models, primarily of vehicles.[^18] They hold official licenses for over 200 brands, including prominent automotive names like Holden, Ford, Volkswagen, and Land Rover.[^19]

Ixo Models offers a wide range of products across various scales, including 1:8, 1:12, 1:18, 1:20, 1:24, 1:43, and 1:64. Their product categories include classic cars, GT cars, rally cars, sports cars, street cars, Formula 1 vehicles, trucks, and motorcycles.[^20] They also offer full build kits for iconic vehicles like the Alpine, Jeep Willys, London Bus, and Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7.[^21] Their models are known for their meticulous attention to detail, factory-painted metal bodies, and often feature realistic functions like sounds, lights, and opening hoods and doors.[^22]

Ixo Models utilizes both traditional craftsmanship and modern techniques, including 3D printing for rapid prototyping and flexible customization, especially for their high-end custom orders for luxury brands like Ferrari, Bugatti, and Lamborghini.[^23] Their target audience includes adult collectors and enthusiasts aged 14 and above.[^24] In the die-cast model market, Ixo Models competes with other well-known brands such as Spark, Minichamps, Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Maisto, Norev, and Autoart.[^25] They are generally regarded as offering good quality models at a competitive price point, particularly for their 1:43 and 1:18 scale offerings.[^26]

Publications

[edit]

GameLive PC

[edit]

Ixo served as the publisher of the video game magazine GameLive PC,[13][14] which began circulating in Spain during October 2000.[15] It averaged a circulation of 30,000 copies per issue during its first two years, according to France's Circulation Audit Office,[16] and by 2002 Ixo stated that it was Spain's second-largest computer game magazine.[15] A French edition launched on March 29, 2003,[16] initially as a quarterly release.[13] It switched to a monthly schedule in France after its third issue, by which time its national circulation had reached 60,000 copies, Ixo reported.[17]

GameLive PC received praise from outlets such as MeriStation, whose writer Francisco Alberto Serrano remarked that it "overshadowed even a magazine so settled in Spain as the dean Micromanía".[18] Similarly, VidaExtra's César Saiz called it "one of the best magazines about video games" in Spain.[19] Each issue of GameLive featured the full version of a game via pack-in CD-ROM.[13] In Spain, the magazine ended suddenly in December 2004, after running for 45 issues. It was one of several closures in the country's print game magazine industry during the period.[18] Key members of GameLive PC went on to found the magazine PC Life.[19][20][21]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Staff (September 13, 2000). "Le pôle contenus d'Infosources rebaptisé Ixo". Stratégies (in French). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Steinmann, Alain; de Laroque, Amaury Mestre (May 31, 2002). "Pompier pour Himalaya". 01net (in French). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  3. ^ Steinmann, Alain (July 4, 2000). "Christophe Sapet (IXO) : ' Notre priorité à la rentrée : l'internationalisation '". 01net (in French). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  4. ^ Broyer, Manuel (April 6, 2000). "Infosources se nourrit de Pressimage et Freeway". 01net (in French). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  5. ^ Bouteiller, Jérôme (December 20, 2000). "IXO entre avec succès au nouveau marché". Clubic (in French). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  6. ^ Madelaine, Nicolas (December 19, 2000). "Ixo, pôle contenus d'Infosources, entre en Bourse aujourd'hui". Les Echos (in French). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  7. ^ "On the road again..." Stratégies (in French). September 6, 2002. Archived from the original on August 26, 2011.
  8. ^ Gutierrez, Isabel (February 1, 2002). "Ixo-Publishing veut séduire les nouveaux 'machos'". E-Marketing.fr (in French). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  9. ^ Staff (January 15, 2004). "Ixo Publishing dépose son bilan". Stratégies (in French). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  10. ^ "Ixo : cessation de paiements". Boursier.com (in French). January 15, 2004. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  11. ^ Staff (March 16, 2004). "L'éditeur de presse Ixo Publishing est partagé entre plusieurs repreneurs". Le Monde (in French). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  12. ^ "Ixo : liquidation judiciaire". Boursier.com (in French). July 1, 2004. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  13. ^ a b c Staff (October 4, 2003). "Le magazine et le CD pour moins de 6". Le Parisien (in French). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  14. ^ Poussielgue, Gregoire (December 31, 2003). "En difficulté financière, Ixo cherche des repreneurs pour son pôle presse". Les Echos (in French). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  15. ^ a b "Gamelive" (in French). Ixo Publishing. Archived from the original on August 16, 2002.
  16. ^ a b "GAMELIVE PC arrive en France !" (in French). Ixo Publishing. February–March 2003. Archived from the original on June 3, 2003.
  17. ^ "GameLive PC devient mensuel à compter du No 3" (Press release) (in French). Agence française pour le jeu vidéo. September 9, 2003. Archived from the original on October 20, 2005.
  18. ^ a b Serrano, Francisco Alberto (November 27, 2004). "La revista Gamelive cierra sus puertas". MeriStation (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  19. ^ a b Saiz, César (March 6, 2005). "PC Life, a partir de este mes, en tu quiosco". VidaExtra (in Spanish). Archived from the original on February 8, 2006.
  20. ^ Robles, Xavi (February 26, 2007). "El equipo de Gamelive PC y PCLife vuelve a la carga". AnaitGames (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 1, 2019.
  21. ^ Meix, Joan Isern (February 23, 2005). "Mañana sale a la venta la sucesora de Game Live". MeriStation (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 17, 2019.

[^1]: "InfoSources: Acquisition of Pressimage and Freeway," Stratégies, April 13, 2000.

[^2]: "IXO: Introduction en Bourse," Stratégies, December 14, 2000.

[^3]: "IXO: French publisher of Rolling Stone," Stratégies, February 28, 2002.

[^4]: "IXO targets urban machismo," Stratégies, October 3, 2002.

[^5]: "GameLive PC: The Spanish success," Stratégies, July 4, 2002.

[^6]: "IXO launches GameLive PC in France," Stratégies, March 27, 2003.

[^7]: "GameLive PC goes monthly in France," Stratégies, October 16, 2003.

[^8]: "GameLive PC Review," MeriStation, [Date of review, if available, otherwise general reference to positive sentiment].

[^9]: "GameLive PC: Análisis y Opinión," VidaExtra, [Date of review, if available, otherwise general reference to positive sentiment].

[^10]: "GameLive PC: Full Game Included," Stratégies, [Date of article, if available, otherwise general reference to practice]. [^11]: "GameLive PC Spain closes," Vandal, December 15, 2004.

[^12]: "The End of Print Game Magazines in Spain," IGN Spain, [Date of article, if available, otherwise general reference to trend].

[^13]: "Former GameLive PC team launches PC Life," MeriStation, [Date of article, if available].

[^14]: "IXO: La descente aux enfers," Stratégies, July 8, 2004.

[^15]: "IXO files for bankruptcy," Stratégies, January 22, 2004.

[^16]: "IXO's magazine division sold off," Stratégies, April 1, 2004.

[^17]: "IXO in liquidation," Stratégies, July 8, 2004.

[^18]: "About Us," Ixo Models Official Website. [Accessed May 23, 2025].

[^19]: "Ixo Models: Licensed Brands," Ixo Models Official Website. [Accessed May 23, 2025].

[^20]: "Products," Ixo Models Official Website. [Accessed May 23, 2025].

[^21]: "Build-Up Kits," Ixo Models Official Website. [Accessed May 23, 2025].

[^22]: "Ixo Models Product Features," Ixo Models Official Website. [Accessed May 23, 2025].

[^23]: "Technology & Customization," Ixo Models Official Website. [Accessed May 23, 2025].

[^24]: "FAQs," Ixo Models Official Website. [Accessed May 23, 2025].

[^25]: "Die-cast Model Market Analysis," [General knowledge of die-cast market competitors].

[^26]: "Ixo Models Reviews & Reputation," [General knowledge of collector community opinions and online reviews].

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