One illustrative method disclosed herein involves forming first and second gate structures that include a cap layer for a first transistor device and a second transistor device, respectively, wherein the first and second transistors are oriented transverse to one another, performing a first halo ion implant process to form first halo implant regions for the first transistor with the cap layer in position in the first gate structure of the first transistor, removing the cap layer from at least the second gate structure of the second transistor and, after removing the cap layer, performing a second halo ion implant process to form second halo implant regions for the second transistor, wherein the first and second halo implant processes are performed at transverse angles relative to the substrate.