14 DAY TRIAL // Halo Waypoint was first unveiled three months ago and now Microsoft has released the first screens for the program and even a small video of the service in action. The “new destination for Halo fans on Xbox Live," as it was first labeled, is a channel for the online service of the Xbox 360 where Halo enthusiasts will have access to exclusive content and will be able to show off their achievements in front of everyone.
One of the special features available inside Waypoint is the Intel area, where, members will find additional information on the entire Halo franchise, not just the games. The game-inspired novels, as well as the anime that was born from the same universe, Halo Legends, will be part of Halo Waypoint. The service will be updated every day by 343 Industries, and some of the information added will even be user-generated content.
Another one of the features included in Waypoint will be the Career tab. This will be a special system that allows players to put together all their Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST and Halo Wars achievements, and then it "converts them into an overall ranking and recognition system." This is mainly a feature for the hardcore fans of the franchise, those who have spent a lot of time in the mentioned games and want to show the world their cumulative trophies and dedication to the series.
The Career will also add Waypoint Milestones, which use the achievements obtained to increase the user's level as a Halo Waypoint member. Waypoint Awards is another added feature that represents a collection of achievements in a certain area of the games, like particular weapons and vehicles. The project will become operational on November 5 and it will be available to all Xbox Live users, but only for a limited period of time. After November 26, only members of the Xbox Live Gold service will have access to Waypoint, and the Gold service isn't a free one.