Chris Compendio

Writer and Digital Media Specialist

Video Game News

The majority of my news coverage has centered around the video games industry. These are news stories sourced from press releases and other official sources, but many are based on original reporting and interviews. 

Scroll below this section to read news stories about other popular culture mediums, including film, television, music, and books.

GameSpot •

First Call Of Duty: Warzone Black Ops Royale Gameplay Footage Is Full Of Blackout Nostalgia

As Activision promised, the new mode for Call of Duty: Warzone looks like a proper throwback to the franchise's first battle royale, letting fans grapple-hook and glide around the game's Avalon map like it's 2018. New gameplay footage from the official Call of Duty YouTube channel shows that the upcoming Black Ops Royale mode contains plenty of references to the original Blackout mode.
GameSpot •

Final Direct For The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Has A Shocking Reveal Of Yoshi's Voice Actor

The voice behind Mario's dinosaur sidekick was the biggest question mark up until now, and it's doubtful many had the Atlanta and Community star at the top of their list of guesses. Yoshi has demonstrated the ability to speak in video games, but as with other Mario characters, it's never been a fully voiced role. It'll certainly be a trip to hear the voice behind "Redbone" and "This is America" coming out of Yoshi.
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Film and TV News

While I have primarily written news regarding video games or the Greater Philadelphia region, many of my news writing positions also had me pull from my expertise on film and television. Below are news stories from various publications that touch on happenings in that industry.

As an added note, my coverage for Flixist and Destructoid demonstrate how I incorporate comedy into my thumbnails and copy, matching the sense of humor of those publications.

GameSpot •

Final Direct For The Super Mario Galaxy Movie Has A Shocking Reveal Of Yoshi's Voice Actor

The voice behind Mario's dinosaur sidekick was the biggest question mark up until now, and it's doubtful many had the Atlanta and Community star at the top of their list of guesses. Yoshi has demonstrated the ability to speak in video games, but as with other Mario characters, it's never been a fully voiced role. It'll certainly be a trip to hear the voice behind "Redbone" and "This is America" coming out of Yoshi.
PhillyVoice •

'Dragula' contestant Pi hopes Philly will grow its 'arsenal' of drag stars on TV

With cartoony aesthetics and a sense of childhood whimsy, Philly drag artist Pi brought a playfulness to Season 6 of the twisted, gross-out competition show "The Boulet Brothers' Dragula" on Shudder. Though the performer only placed fifth after literally being iced out of the race, the experience allowed them to reflect on their creative identity and contemplate their next career steps.
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Other Media Coverage (Music, Comics, Books, Comedy)

Paste Magazine •

The Doctor Who Season Nine Soundtrack Is Finally Arriving in 2018

For reasons not entirely known, it has taken as long as the Doctor’s lifespan for the release of the soundtrack of Doctor Who season nine. More than two years after the season (sorry, “series,” for you U.K. readers) wrapped up, Whovians have had nothing to listen to besides low-quality rips on YouTube—but Silva Screen Records confirmed today that the Murray Gold soundtrack will finally grace our ears sometime in early 2018.
Paste Magazine •

17th Annual SF Sketchfest Announces Huge Lineup, Feat. Ricky Gervais, Dick Cavett, Jane Lynch, More

Annual sketch-comedy festival SF Sketchfest will hold its 17th event next January, and the list of names in attendance is absurdly large. The eclectic festival will host more than 200 shows across 16 venues in the San Francisco area, lasting from Jan. 11-28, 2018. A combination of A-list stars and up-and-coming comedians and performers will take part in sketch performances, stand-up, alternative comedy, music, improv, films, tributes, live podcasts, workshops and panel discussions.
Paste Magazine •

The Daily Show's Presidential Twitter Library Is Moving to Chicago

As Donald Trump pulls the country further into the gutter through his tweets alone, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah (which we hear is overrated!) looked to skewer Trump’s insane social media addiction with a satirical museum. Originally opening as a limited engagement in New York City, Comedy Central announced via press release that The Donald J. Trump Presidential Twitter Library will open in Chicago later this month. The exhibit was previously based in New York City.
Paste Magazine •

National Book Foundation Announces 2017 5 Under 35 Honorees, All Women

Every year, the National Book Foundation honors five up-and-coming fiction writers under the age of 35 in the appropriately titled program “5 Under 35.” These five are selected by National Book Awards winners, finalists and other esteemed writers, for their first and so far only published works of fiction. The NBF has just announced their 2017 honorees, and all five of them are women.
Paste Magazine •

Mastodon Showed Up as Wights in Last Night's Game of Thrones

Oh boy, a lot sure happened in that Game of Thrones finale (spoilers ahead, obviously). Things got hot and heavy between Jon and Daenerys on a boat, Littlefinger got offed, Jon and Dany became intimate on a boat, Cersei and Daenerys accepted a truce and Jon and Dany had intercourse on a boat. But the most significant development by far (besides the boat sex) was The Wall coming down at the end of the episode, at the hands of the sinister Night King and his newly-resurrected dragon Viserion. During that sequence, you might have missed another musician cameo.