Hello everyone and welcome back to my parlour, the first interview of 2021 is with a very special guest and one that is very close to my heart, I would like to add. She’s the queen of gpose and lalas, one of the most talented people I know when we’re talking about screens, an absolute sweetheart: the wonderful Aveline aka Pumpulipui!! Thank you for accepting my invitation!
Thank you for your lovely words and thank you for having me on Gamersations! It’s a real honor and joy to be interviewed by one of the sweetest people I know!
Starting from the very beginning, when did your gaming experience begin?
My very first touch to gaming was through my dad when I must’ve been around 5-6 years old. He bought a Nintendo 64 with F1 Pole Position 64 and Super Mario 64, later on expanding the library with such games as Banjo & Kazooie. Me and my brother would sit (more or less) quietly watching our dad gather stars and jump on evil mushrooms, or driving “just one more lap”, completely captivated by what was happening on the screen. I don’t think my interest towards gaming would’ve sparked in such a way if it weren’t for my dad.
What was the first game you played and felt completely in love with?
I think the one that had the most impact on me from my earlier days was Final Fantasy VII. Me and my brother bought it together but at some point he lost interest while I kept at it. I wasn’t that good in English yet so I probably missed a lot of the story, but something about it just fascinated me. The characters, magic, summons, breeding and racing chocobos… and of course the story as much as I could grasp it. It’s the first game I stayed up to play through the night, as well as spending hours looking through guides and scribbling all the info down in my notebook.
What is your all time favorite game?
That’s a damn hard question! I have many games I absolutely adore and love for various reasons, but seeing I’m pretty much a BioWare fangirl it’s a tough call between Mass Effect-trilogy (yes I count them all as one) and Dragon Age: Origins. I tend to lean slightly towards Dragon Age in this one, though! It’s the first game that really made me feel like I was playing my own character(s) with personalities and backstories I created myself, and the story and characters just blew me away.
I do have to give some honorable mentions to such games as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Journey, Telltale’s The Walking Dead and Final Fantasy XIV.
What videogames are you playing at the moment?
I’m currently bouncing between FFXIV, Rune Factory 4 and Stardew Valley with a bit of WoW thrown into the mix!
How did you end up playing FFXIV?
Through friends. I originally got talked into trying the game right as the revamped Realm Reborn was released. Sadly my friends were mainly from the US which ended up in me playing on my own most of the time so I quit. Fast forward to 5 years ago, my friend who got me into Guild Wars 2 originally said she’s testing the waters in FFXIV and roped me along for the ride. Thankfully I stuck with it and haven’t looked back since!
What made you stay in love with the game over the years?
There’s plenty of reasons, but overall the world in the game itself. The captivating story, the beautiful world, the enchanting music, the interesting characters… And of course glamour and gposing! There’s always stuff to do as well, whether it’s just chilling AFK in an RP-bar with friends or farming giant boss monsters for loot.
Going from one mmo to another, I’m sure the rest of the community is curious about your WoW experience! How did you end up playing it and what’s your favorite in game activity?
That story is a lot less boring: I saw the game on sale when I was a teenager and decided to grab it after quite a while of wondering whether I should try it or not! I was an active raider from WotLK to MoP, but since those days I’ve taken breaks and returned only briefly. Shadowlands is the first expansion that made me return for real, but I’m way more casual with my approach to the game and activities. My favorite thing nowadays is to run old raids for transmogs and mounts! I also love creating alts who I may or may not actually play at some point.
Are there any other games you would like to try or that you are looking forward to being released?
By far the game I’m most excited about right now is the Mass Effect-trilogy remake! I’m also looking forward to Monster Hunter: Rise and the announcement of the next FFXIV expansion which should be released later this year.
We’ve talked a lot about video games but what does gaming mean to you?
Games have a huge meaning and impact for me in my life. On one hand it’s a way for me to experience stories, create characters and to express myself. On the other hand it can also be a way for me to relax, or to get my blood pumping or a way to socialize with friends.
Gaming also brought us together, how did you end up joining the IG gaming community?
My first intention with posting on IG was just to have a place to post the massive amount of pictures I take, and eventually it all just kind of happened in its own pace. I’ve definitely met some amazing people through the community, some of them I even have the pleasure of calling my friends.
Do you have a message for the community?
You’re never too old to play games and meet new friends! And never feel bad for taking breaks, no matter how long, if you’re no longer enjoying gaming. It’s okay to take a step back and enjoy other things as well!
Your account is really one of the best looking ones. Your unique style is unmistakable and no matter what game you choose, they are always amazing. What is your main inspiration for them and what is your favorite game for taking perfect screens?
Thank you! As far as inspiration goes, it tends to differ from picture to picture. Sometimes I want to tell a story, sometimes I just want to snap a picture right then and there because my character looked cute!
Right now I feel like FFXIV has the best tools for snapping screenshots, so it’d be my pick as a favorite game for screenies!
We’ve talked about gaming a lot, but who is mommabear Aveline in real life?
I’m currently a stay-at-home mom from Finland! I live with my boyfriend of almost 8 years and our two sons; older one is three and younger one will be turning two in February. I drink too much coffee and besides gaming I enjoy movies, especially horror ones.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future (both gaming and rl)?
With gaming, I hope I get to experience a lot more stories and wonderful journeys with interesting and captivating games! Right now for real life, I wish the pandemic would be over as soon as possible. I’m also praying all my friends and family stay safe and healthy during these times. That’s enough to keep me happy.
And lastly, the most difficult question of all. Who are three members of the gaming community you would like to see as my guests?
I’m mostly familiar with the FFXIV-community on Instagram, and there’s a couple people I’d be keen on knowing better! There’s plenty more, but from the top of my head I could name Cerise, Leo K. and Strawberry!
And with this our interview comes to an end. Thank you again for accepting my invitation and for just being the wonderful person you are!
As always thank you all for joining us and thank you to my trusted sidekick for his help!
Kylara's Gamersations 