James Perkins Mastromarino
James Perkins Mastromarino is Here & Now's Washington, D.C.-based producer. He works with NPR's newsroom on a daily whirlwind of topics that range from Congress to TV dramas to outer space. Mastromarino also edits NPR's Gaming coverage and reports on gaming for daily shows like All Things Considered, Pop Culture Happy Hour and Morning Edition.
Mastromarino was born in Oakland, California, and was raised in the Netherlands, Boston and San Diego. He contracted the media bug in high school when he made short documentaries and features that premiered at venues like the LA Film Festival. He later discovered a love of audio production as a student reporter at BYU Radio.
An avid hiker and bicyclist, he earned a bachelor's in history from Brigham Young University, researched German movies at Cambridge University and did volunteer service work in Japan. He lives in Arlington, Virginia. [Copyright 2025 NPR]
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From indies like Blue Prince to big console exclusives like Donkey Kong Bananza, NPR staff and contributors round up their favorite games of the year so far. -
The Switch 2 improves upon the first console in nearly every way. But is it worth the $450? We review how to get the best bang for your buck. -
Criticized for its high cost but still selling out nearly everywhere, Nintendo's sequel to their popular Switch console releases as a trade war squeezes the video game industry. -
Nightreign shrinks Elden Ring down into intense expeditions that demand tight three-player coordination. It's a joy for co-op fans, but sacrifices the expansiveness that made the original game so compelling. -
Some retailers appear to be cancelling preorders for the Nintendo Switch 2 ahead of the console's launch June 5. Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser spoke to us about how an ongoing trade war is impacting the Switch 2's release. -
We played hours of Nintendo Switch 2 games the same day President Trump announced new global tariffs. Despite the hefty price tag, it's a solid evolution of one of the world's most popular consoles. -
Assassin's Creed Shadows, out Thursday, might be big enough to reverse Ubisoft's crumbling fortunes. But the game faces headwinds. -
Game studios have cranked out surprising hits ranging from cooperative platformers to historical epics. NPR staff and contributors round up the latest from a promising 2025.
