ionos Software Development and Publishing Partners, Inc. of Scottsdale, Arizona, with developers from California to Belgium, is breaking new ground in the interactive entertainment and Internet software industry.

Headed by industry veterans and boasting a truly innovative developer relations model, ionos is the place where developers are treated as true partners throughout the product's lifespan, from development and production to marketing and sales.

Nothing is more representative of its commitment to developer partnerships than ionos' unique publishing model that splits profits evenly with developers. 50/50 -- that's an unprecedented figure at this level of the industry. Match that with a sales operation focused on every known and some yet-unknown sales channels, and the result is a company focused on matching truly original titles and talent with an innovative business model. For too long, publishers have been a restrictive presence in the interactive entertainment and software industry. ionos provides the one place where developers and their ideas can move freely without resistance.

Founded in 1996, ionos is headed by industry veteran Mario Vassaux. Formerly the Director of Operations for FormGen, Vassaux was part of the team that launched such notable titles as Wolfenstein: Spear of Destiny, and Duke Nukem 3D. Vassaux formed ionos after GT Interactive Software, in a multi-million dollar acquisition, purchased FormGen in 1996. Joining Vassaux at ionos is Adam Brüss. Brüss, V.P. of Sales and Marketing, has been a top marketing executive at a number of successful consumer software companies including Automap, Inc., MicroBase, and Pretty Good Privacy, Inc.

ionos has been extremely busy right from the start. In February of 1997, ionos acquired Mediatechnics from GT Interactive Software, immediately gaining the profitability of the Mediatechnics division. Mediatechnics software manufacturing operation gives ionos' software publishing division increased profitability by allowing it to closely hold the line on costs and better respond to market conditions for all the products it publishes.

ionos has also debuted several hot titles for the fall gaming season, ranging from the critically acclaimed funky business-simulator Zapitalism, to LEDWars, a real-time strategy title featuring top-notch Artificial Intelligence, as well as Demonstar, one of the first titles to utilize force-feedback joystick technology.