TouchIT

As the Halo franchise continued to grow, Microsoft Game Studios wanted to offer fans a unique and constant connection to the Haloverse throughout the day. After releasing the new Xbox console with access to detailed Halo information, BLITZ joined Microsoft’s 343 Industries in expanding the Haloverse beyond players’ homes.

Our deadline was set in stone: September 13, 2010, the day before Microsoft released its most anticipated game of the decade, Halo: Reach. That gave us five months to conceptualize, create and launch the Halo Waypoint website, the most captivating and interactive Halo experience outside of playing the actual game. Our overall Waypoint strategy was the first of its kind for Halo. We designed each screen (users’ Microsoft Xbox® consoles, the web and mobile phones) to represent different military role in the Haloverse. For example, the website was suited to the engineer offering loads of details on every Halo-related topic. Here, users can find smooth streaming videos, event info, motion comics, interviews, podcasts, forums … and literally anything else related to this popular gaming franchise, including large amounts of  “intel” content that had previously existed only on the console.

The site was developed entirely in Microsoft Silverlight, making it the most expansive Silverlight experience yet. Using Silverlight enabled us to create a more immersive experience than would have been possible on a traditional HTML site. We also incorporated both keyboard and mouse commands into the video-browsing system to give fans an intuitive search experience. To maximize SEO and accommodate non-Silverlight users, Waypoint was developed in HTML as well. The seamless flow between these two interfaces enabled tech-savvy fans to switch between the two without losing their place on the site.

Halo Waypoint’s other screens include the Microsoft’s Xbox console and the Halo Waypoint mobile application. The console experience can be thought of as the admiral’s view, offering users an overview of several high-level topics without providing deep details. Conversely, the mobile app is more akin to the “foot-soldier’s” sidearm always at the ready, quick to utilize and highly functional. Post launch, we further enhanced Waypoint Mobile to allow gamers to schedule in-game challenges and search for hidden Easter eggs that unlock in-game content among other activities, thus creating an app that acts as a social hub for Halo users to access, message and compare stats with friends directly through the app.

With this three-screen strategy in place, Waypoint has quickly become an instinctive source of information for fans, while increasing Halo’s touchpoints throughout the day.