RUKUS June 2013 by RUKUS MAGAZINE

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Lily Figuera June Cover Model 20 questions with Lily

Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Alisha Baijounas

14 All Access

The Latest Albums Reviewed Albums Reviewed: TYGA Hotel California

By Jeremy Weeden

Black Sabbath 13 By Dan Sinclair

18 All Access Spotlight

20 Live & Loud

Live Show Reviews Featured Artists/Shows: Limp Bizkit and Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers

By Nicolas Bates and Dan Sinclair

24 Coming Up

Models To Keep An Eye On Featured Models: Victoria Elise El Paso, TX Phoenix Stanna Huntington Beach, CA

32 Game On

The Latest Games Reviewed Games Reviewed: Metro: Last Light By Jesse Seilhan

Artist/Bands Featured:

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon

Alice In Chains, Daft Punk and Pepper

Exclusive E3 Coverage

By Silas Valentino

On The Cover

Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Alisha Baijounas

www.RUKUSmag.com

By Josh Schilling

By Andrew Gates and Jesse Seilhan

This Page

Photo by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Alisha Baijounas

June 2013 â&#x20AC;˘ RUKUS

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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Andrew Gates Live & Loud Editor

Nicolas Bates All Access Editor

Silas Valentino Games Editor

Jesse Seilhan Art Director

Andrew Gates All Access Contributors

Silas Valentino, Dan Sinclair & Jeremy Weeden Live & Loud Contributors

Nicolas Bates & Dan Sinclair Pit Pass Contributor

Andrew Gates Game On Contributors

Jesse Seilhan & Josh Schilling Contributing Photographers

Andrew Gates & Nicolas Bates Contributing Videographers

Nate Olson & Toby Wilson Contributing Make-up Artists

Alisha Baijounas & Bioanca Robinson Contributing Hair Stylists

Alisha Baijounas & Bioanca Robinson Advertising

Andrew Gates

advertise@RUKUSmag.com Mailing Address

RUKUS MAGAZINE 11304 Chandler Blvd. #6131 North Hollywood, CA 91603

Copyright © 2008-2013 RUKUS MAGAZINE & RUKUSmag.com. All Rights Reserved! June 2013 issue, Volume 5, Number 6. ISSN 2161-4369 (print) ISSN 2161-4377 (online) Visit http://www.RUKUSmag.com for more images and content.

Lily Figuera Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Alisha Baijounas

ily Figuera has come back to RUKUS for her second appearance and we couldn’t be more happy about it. If you are not familiar with her we suggest you google her and get familiar, she’s probably the hottest thing to hit the web in a while. She was originally born in the Philippines, but moved to the United States when she was very young. She spent most of her time growing up in Delano, California, which is a small town about four hours from Los Angeles. After graduating high school she immediately moved to San Diego, CA where she lived before Delano, CA. She started modeling at different car shows and events, but just before turning 21, she was offered her own website where she could model via webcam. She accepted the offer and has been doing this for the past four years. Lily said in the future she would love to stop modeling to become a housewife and raise two to three kids with a loving and caring husband. We’re guessing it won’t be hard to find a man who can fulfill this requirement, any takers?.

RUKUS • June 2013

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RUKUS • June 2013

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20 QUESTIONS 1.What’s your Ethnicity? Filipino. 2.What’s your zodiac sign? Aries. 3.Where are you from originally? I was born in the Philippines. My family and I moved to Delano, CA when I was six. 4.What did you like most about growing up in the Delano? Delano, California is such a small town. The only thing I really liked about it was being there with my family. I honestly hated it. When I was in high school, all I could think about was moving to LA as soon as I graduated. 5.What kind of mischief did you get into while growing up? I was always a good girl. Never ditched school and always came home after school. But, I was lazy doing homework so I would always copy my sister and my friends homework. I would cheat during tests too, who doesn’t. [laugh] 6.What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done? I was 21 years old living with six other roommates in the house. One of my very good friends and I didn’t get along with any of them. There were three of them to be specific, they wanted me and my friend to move out with very little notice. So we packed our clothes and while they were at work my friend stole one of their straightener and I took their tooth brush and scrubbed it all over the toilet. I am laughing right now just thinking about it. [laugh] 7.What’s your favorite hobby and why? I go to the gym just to get away from home for an hour or two. I work from home a lot and I get really bored.

10.If you could change one thing in the world what would it be and why? If I could change one thing, I would change taxes, everyone hates getting taxed. 11.What’s one of your personal goals? I would like to be married and have kids by the time I’m 30 years old. 12.What do guys compliment you on the most? My personality. Every time I meet my fans they always tell me they always knew I had a great personality and when they meet me in person they say it’s even more amazing. 13.What’s your favorite body part on yourself? My butt. I think it is because I am Asian and petite and people always say Asians have no ass. I am thankful that I am one of the few who actually has some booty. 14.What do you look for in a guy? A man who is driven, smart, passionate and confident. Of course he has to be nice, sweet, caring and loving too. Oh, and he must be a freak in bed. [laugh] 15.What’s the first thing you notice about a guy? I think the first thing would be his style as far as clothes are concerned. I like a man who is well-dressed. 16.What’s your ideal first date? If it were during the day it would be just a typical nice lunch and maybe ice cream after. If it were at night then it would be a nice dinner and wine. 17.What turns you on? What turns me on is the sexy smirk look. It’s hard to explain but the sexier version of the “blue steel” look. [laugh] 18.What turns you off? Body-odor, bad breath, disrespectful people.

arrogance

and

8.What’s your guilty pleasure? I love chocolate malted crunch. If I am mad or sad that’s what makes me happy. [smile]

19.What’s your biggest pet peeve? When the dishes are not done. I hate having dirty dishes laying on the sink.

9.Who do you admire and why? I admire women who enjoy being healthy and are independent and not afraid to be alone.

20.Who’s your celebrity pass? Ryan Phillippe. I had a huge crush on him until I heard that he cheated on Reese Witherspoon. RM

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RUKUS • June 2013

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June 2013 • RUKUS

I like a man who is well-dressed.

RUKUS â&#x20AC;˘ June 2013

" www.RUKUSmag.com

STATS: Birthday:

April 13

Height:

5’0”

Weight:

95lb

Measurements:

32C-24-32

See more of Lily at twitter.com/lilyfiguera www.RUKUSmag.com

June 2013 • RUKUS

Tyga’s World Written by Jeremy Weeden Young Money Entertainment artist Tyga returns to the music scene with his third studio album, Hotel California. Fresh off the heels from 2012’s Careless World: Rise of the Last King, Tyga obviously intends to strike while the iron is hot. Hotel California is a star studded affair featuring guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Chris Brown, Game, Wiz Khalifa, Future and Jadakiss. The album features production from Cool & Dre, DJ Mustard, David D.A. Doman, Lil C, SAP and Mars of 1500 or Nothin. The album gets started with the Ryan Hunt produced “500 Degrees” featuring label mate Lil Wayne. On this New Orleans flavored track Tyga gets things started with lyrics like “I’m killing this shit, and I’m killing your mind/One verse at a time, the shivers are mine/I murdered this shit, just takin my time/Got bars, front gate/ face shot, blind date.” Not to be outdone by the young gun, Lil Wayne also drops a hot verse with lines like “Schoolin’ motherfuckers, I’m their favorite subject/Broomstick in my pants, I’m bout to go witch hunting/I’m already loaded, these niggas still buffering/ I fuck my girlfriend and her best friend, these niggas is lesbians/Don’t cross me like a pedestrian/ I’m getting head watching ESPN.” The next song, the album’s first single “Dope” featuring rap kingpin Rick Ross is reminiscent of “Rack City” with its stripped down bass heavy beat and catchy chorus. This standout track features a sample from the Snoop Dogg classic “Deep Cover” and will definitely be one of the most played songs in the clubs this summer. Promotional single “Molly” featuring Wiz Khalifa is another guaranteed club banger. One can easily guess what the song is about from the title and both rappers drop verses about partying with Molly. Wiz Khalifa has a stellar appearance with lyrics like “I might pull up in some shit that you’ve never ever seen/ And if I said how much I made, then you won’t even believe/ Me and T-Y gettin gnarly when we pull up to the party/ Brought a whole pound of Mary and I can’t seem to find Molly” Tyga slows it down on “For the Road” featuring Chris Brown. This slow jam samples SWV’s “Rain” and finds the rapper lamenting a girl who is leaving him due to his lifestyle and the mistakes he has made. Hotel California’s third single “Show You” featuring Future is a nice summer jam with a laid-back drum heavy beat. “Hit Em Up” is a hard-hitting track produced by DJ Mustard which borrows the chorus from C-Murder and Snoop Dogg’s hit “Down 4 My Niggaz.” “It Never Rains” is produced by Miami beat squad Cool and Dre and samples Tone Toni Tony’s hit song “It Never Rains (In Southern California).” The song also features The Game who reminds us why he is one of the best in hip-hop with lines like “Nowhere to nothing, money longer than that suburban/Love her but she a stripper, magnum wrapped just like a turban.” Another standout song on Hotel California is the Jay-Z sampled “M.O.E.” For Tyga this acronym does not stand for money over everything, but music over everything. This slow riding track also features Wiz Khalifa who once again delivers a nice guest appearance. “Hijack” features the always entertaining 2 Chainz who does not disappoint here with ridiculous lines like “Marijuana, money, and vagina/I got plaques on my walls, you got gingivitis/Still sell a brick like I won’t retire/Hijack your bitch, steal your wifey/Man my chopper go hyphy, you got your bitch in some Nikes/I got my bitch with some dykes and she saying she like it/ We were down in Paris, keeping it Eiffling/You was at home, keeping it trifling.” Tyga keeps the Young Money flag flying high with Hotel California. It is a good summertime album with good beats and catchy choruses. Hotel California is perfect for riding too or playing at a party and is sure to be one of the soundtracks to the summer.

RUKUS • June 2013

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June 2013 • RUKUS

RUKUS • June 2013

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Lucky Number 13 Written by Dan Sinclair

Don’t be confused, my dear metal heads, 13 is actually the 19th studio album from the legendary English hard rockers Black Sabbath and their first one since their universally panned 1995 release Forbidden. It’s also the first full studio album to reunite lead guitarist Tommy Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler with original singer Ozzy Osborne since the Oz-man was kicked out due to his heavy drug use way back in 1979. Unfortunately, one original member did not join in on the reunion as drummer Bill Ward apparently had better things to do and was instead replaced by former Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave percussionist Brad Wilk. 13 starts off exactly where it should with “End of the Beginning” because after all, we are all surely asking ourselves what this reunion of Sabbath means for the future, aren’t we? The slow mounting intro has Ozzy ask, “Is this the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end?” over mounting guitar and drum fills, very aptly placed first words indeed. Is this just one last hurrah for Black Sabbath to go out the way they came in or should we expect a steady stream of new rock from the sexagenarian musicians? And more importantly… will we want it? But soon, the intro dies down and up comes Tommy Iommi doing his magic on the guitar along with Butler and Wilk picking up the pace and we can see that age is not a factor—these motherfuckers are here to rock. This first track is over eight epic minutes of good old fashioned rock and roll to kick off the new album, answering at least one of those questions… yes, we will want more! “God Is Dead” is next, and of course it is because where would we be without Ozzy Osborne and Black Sabbath proudly blurring the lines between God and Satan, and having some fun with organized religion? The track keeps on rocking with Butler’s bass thundering loudly in the intro. Ozzy sings, “Give me the wine, you keep the bread,” before asking “Is God alive or is God dead?” Is that a trick question, Oz? Last we heard you were still alive and well. Pretty catchy riff for “Loner” next as 13 continues to rock on. Sabbath rocks out to “He’s a loner/he never says hello,” and we are taken back to the better part of the 1970s… even those of us who were never actually there. Okay I was technically there for a year but I don’t remember baby shit, come on! Next we hear Ozzy laughing over the mellow acoustic guitar for the start of “Zeitgeist.” It’s the first true (and pretty much only) slow song on the album, but feels rightly placed and very soothing. But don’t worry about Sabbath going soft on you because the drums start pounding again right after that as “Age of Reason” comes in to get your head banging again. “Live Forever” is next and is even better than the last track. Ozzy sings, “Well, I don’t wanna live forever but I don’t want to die.” That’s a pretty good universal problem that we all think about from time to time and it’s nice to rock out, knowing that Sabbath can relate to us all. And then rock some more. “Damaged Soul” has a really unique feel to it as it gets a little bluesier than the other tracks before the band explores some heavy metal daddy issues on “Dear Father,” but it’s “Methademic” that takes the best track award on 13. The song starts off with some mellow acoustic guitar, trying to reel you in to another lullaby and then explodes into some really heavy fast shit and Ozzy is at his best in the great melodic refrain leading up to the chorus of “You live too fast.” “Peace of Mind,” much like “Loner,” really has that old school Ozzy/Sabbath feel to it and the album concludes tremendously with one of the best closers in a long time in “Pariah.” 13 is not an unlucky number for Black Sabbath. The album is the first one in the band’s history to hit Billboard’s #1 spot. It even beat out Daft Punk’s new album, reinforcing something that I’ve held in my heart for quite some time: no matter how cute you can make your synthesizers, keyboards and computer programs sound, they’ll never touch great rock and roll. Hard rockers and metal heads everywhere have waited for this monumental reunion for most of their lives. It’s now here and very much worth the wait.

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Facebook.com/AliceInChains

Written by Silas Valentino

Alice In Chains, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here

Alice in Chains was the grunge band that never was. They were louder, edgier and guitarist Jerry Cantrell’s guitar licks shredded too hard to be compared to Cobain. After a hiatus due to founder/singer Layne Staley’s 2002 death, Alice in Chains reformed with a new singer, William Duvall in 2007. The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here is the first record where the band could record without all the stigmas relating to the new singer and reformation. It still has the droning duo vocals between Cantrell and DuVall and the music is just heavy enough to work for the metal head fan of both the earlier and most recent Alice in Chains. The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here rarely lets go of the distortion and hefty fuzz. The album kicks off with “Hollow,” an explosive opener that thrashes your eardrums to the core and gets your head bobbing. The most developed track on the record is “Phantom Limb.” It’s 7-minutes of heavy drone and soaring vocals. Never afraid to showcase their acoustic side, The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here has two ballads, “Scalpel” and album closer, “Choke.” It’s no easy task reforming with new musicians taking over key players, but Alice in Chains have made it look easy.

Daft Punk, Random Access Memories

Facebook.com/DaftPunk

Back in early March, a 15-second promo appeared during the commercials for Saturday Night Live. And now just three months later, that same song, “Get Lucky” has become the ultimate summer jam. The song’s creators are two French electronic music masterminds known for their worldwide hits and hidden identities due to their notorious robotic helmets. Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter are the men behind the masks of Daft Punk and their new record, Random Access Memories, is without a doubt one of the best records of the year. With one foot in the past paying respect to electronic music’s roots and another foot reaching for beyond, Random Access Memories is a landmark. Part of what excels the record is the royal guest list of contributors. 70’s funk maestro Nile Rodgers supplies undeniably rich guitar riffs on album opener “ Give Life Back to Music” and lead single “Get Funky.” Famed composure Paul Williams provides vocals on the grandiose track “Touch.” So far “Get Lucky” has been the only single, but both “Fragments of Time” and “Doing it Right” could dominate any stereo. Daft Punk has always been the cool, innovative electronic band and it’s records like Random Access Memories that proves it to be true.

Facebook.com/PepperLive

Pepper, Pepper

Since the late 1990s, Pepper has been mixing ska and reggae with lyrics of youthful debauchery. The group saw modest success with 2002’s “Give it Up” and now five years after releasing their last record, Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations, the group is debuting their 6th record, Pepper. Unlike their previous work of Sublime-inspired beach jams, Pepper sounds tighter and more constructed as well as taking the band a few more steps towards sounding more radio-friendly pop. Arriving just in time for summer 2013, Pepper would be perfect company for any trip to the coast. The immaturity and youthful angst that filled Pepper’s earlier work has pretty much blown away in Pepper. Though, you can still spot Pepper’s playfulness spirit sprinkled on top of the album’s 12 tracks. Lead single “FKARND,” meaning fuck around, sums up their new sound. It features a catchy acoustic guitar hook that plays throughout the song, a sing-along chorus just waiting to be let loose while driving with the windows down and little pop nuggets of melodies strategically placed. For this record, the band worked with producer Matt Wallace who’s previously worked with R.E.M. and Maroon 5. With Wallace’s production, Pepper’s 6th album sounds cool, crisp and ready to be popped open.

RUKUS • June 2013

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Limp Bizkit Photos by Nicolas Bates Written by Nicolas Bates

I’ve got to be honest: I’ve never really liked Limp Bizkit. But when I heard they were releasing a new album and playing the House of Blues on Sunset, I got really curious. I knew I had to cover the show. I just did. I showed up somewhat early to find parking—and there was zero in supply. All lots in proximity were sold out, including the House of Blue’s. After finally parking blocks away and making my way back, I realized that Limp Bizkit must be entirely sold out. I was correct. I wasn’t blown away, but definitely a bit surprised. I made my way to the photo pit and felt like I was in a time warp. Hordes of people were wearing late ‘90s attire: baggy cargo pants, jerseys, backward baseball caps, wife beaters, you name it. Even the girls were gettin’ in on it. It was humorous, and I really wondered what the show was going to be like. After the normal wait time for a headliner, Limp Bizkit burst on stage with “Rollin”” and the crowd went wild. Wes Borland, known for his on-stage wardrobe, didn’t disappoint. Shirtless and covered head-to-toe in black body paint, he wore a raggedy-looking dress with leggings and a half-mask glowing with bright L.E.D.s. It became apparent quite quickly that their set list would include older songs and favorites. They ripped through “Show Me What You Got,” “Re-Arranged,” “My Way,” “My Generation” and “Hot Dog” within the first half of their set. Throughout the set Fred Durst spoke to the crowd numerous times and did more than engage them. At one point he offered up a can of Monster to the crowd, but threw in a disclaimer about touching the can with one’s mouth. After saying, “Okay, take a swig, and pass it around!” he launched the can into the audience. Towards the middle of their set, Fred stopped and asked a young man if he was filming with his cell phone. The crowd hushed. Fred told the man to give him his phone and proceeded to walk around stage recording, even going into their next song with the red light still flashing. No one can deny that guy went home with a huge souvenir and smile on his face. The band was tight, I couldn’t deny. I knew Wes Borland was a good guitar player, but I really gained respect for his skill seeing him live. The man really is quite unique and talented when it comes to the ax. But I can definitely say the same for the entire band, as bassist Sam Rivers and drummer John Otto held their own and gave Wes a colorful backdrop on which to lay down his work. To my very large surprise Limp Bizkit chose to cover Rage Against the Machine’s “Killing in the Name,” which is always a crowd favorite no matter what heavy show you go to. That started the second half of the set and preceded “Pollution” and the late-‘90s track “Counterfeit.” After “Counterfeit,” Fred spoke to the crowd, as he did frequently that night. After a brief moment of silence he said, “L.A.’s a dirty little town; here’s some “hand sanny,” pass it around,” as he threw a small bottle into the crowd. I can’t lie; I chuckled. After the crowd cleaned up, Wes Started playing what sounded like “Billie Jean.” As the song picked up and Otto came in with a beat, none other than Corey Feldman hit the stage dressed like Moonwalker-era Michael Jackson and mimicking his moves. He grabbed a mic and performed a pretty damn decent version of the song. The entire crowd was stoked, and, again, I can’t lie, so was I. After the King of Pop’s cover Limp Bizkit rounded out their set with George Michael’s “Faith,” The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes,” as well as “Take a Look Around,” and finally, crowd favorite “Break Stuff,” to which the crowd seemed as though they could have stayed in that moment forever. Not once did the crowd relent for Limp Bizkit. In fact, more people were thrown out of the House of Blues that night than for any other show I’ve been to. Take that how you want to. Either way, that night I walked out of the House of Blues feeling fortunate for having covered Limp Bizkit (and getting to see Corey Feldman’s rendition of “Billie Jean”) and I’m pretty sure every other individual who saw the show felt the same way. Maybe you’re not a huge fan, or just aren’t anymore, but I’m thinking maybe you should check out the Bizkit, even just for old times’ sake.

RUKUS • June 2013

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June 2013 • RUKUS

Tom Petty

and The Heartbreakers Photos by Nicolas Bates Written by Dan Sinclair

Tonight’s packed house waits in eager anticipation to see the sixth and final night of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers playing the “small stage” here at Hollywood’s Fonda Theatre. Security is extra tight tonight as the last show was shut down early due to overcapacity on the floor. The Fonda’s finest are checking tickets and making sure to keep the people in the right places so tonight’s show can go the distance. The paparazzi are also here, snapping pictures out front, but the only “celebrity” in attendance I noticed was one of their own—TMZ’s Charles Latibeaudiere. Tonight’s crowd ranges in all ages, sizes, shapes, but they do share one thing in common—they’re all really, really drunk. By the way, can we please outlaw whistling at concerts? Some idiot kept doing it, damn near blowing my eardrums before the band even picked up an instrument. But it isn’t long before Mr. Tom Petty and his Heartbreakers do finally pick up their instruments, giving the loud, obnoxious crowd reason to cheer loudly for a solid few minutes before going right into their first song of the night, a cover of The Byrds classic “So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star.” You wouldn’t know these men are all in their sixties by their high energy and powerful stage presence. From Tom himself to Mike Campbell on the lead guitar to piano man Benmont Tech III, the legends keep rocking as hard as they did back when the band started back in 1976. The song finishes big with a clean, crisp solo from Campbell and the crowd applauds enthusiastically for several moments. And just as it starts to die down, Tom puts his hands over his head, encouraging for the clapping to continue. The fans oblige and the Heartbreakers go into “Love Is a Long Road.” After the song Tom thanks the crowd and explains that they are going to really explore their catalogue tonight, playing songs that they don’t usually play live, including B-sides and covers. He advises some of the parents in the audience that they may have to “Pay the babysitter a little more tonight.” But before the catalogue exploration begins, he gives the crowd one they all recognize in the 1978 single “Listen to Her Heart.” After that they cover Big Joe Williams’ legendary blues track “Baby Please Don’t Go.” Some other cover songs they played over the course of the night were Paul Revere and the Raiders’ “I’m Not Your Stepping Stone,” JJ Cale’s “I’d Like to Love You, Baby,” Conway Twitty’s “Image of Me,” and “Willin’” by Little Feat. Before the Twitty song, Tom tried to tell a story about touring around Florida back in the ‘70s and how much he liked the old country western music he would hear. Unfortunately, the drunks thought this to be a great time to start shouting out requests and their professions of love for the band. Tom replies, “I love you, too, but I’m trying to tell a story.” He then went on to add that today’s country just isn’t the same and that it’s more like “Watered-down rock music with a fiddle.” Seems like everyone agreed with him. Oh, and they really did explore the entire catalogue throughout the night. They played “Fooled Again (I Don’t Like It)” off their first record and “The Best of Everything” as well as “Rebels” off of 1985’s Southern Accents. Though they didn’t play “Into the Great Wide Open,” they did play “Kings Highway” and “Two Gunslingers” off the album of the same name. They also played “Time to Move On,” “Melinda” and “I Should Have Known It.” It wasn’t until the very end of the set that they launched into the hits with “Refugee” and “Runnin’ Down a Dream” back to back, and nearly brought down the house. They took a short break before coming out to play the two-song encore of “You Wreck Me” and the one that will forever remind me of The Silence of the Lambs in “American Girl.” If there was anyone that wasn’t singing along as loud as they could, it was only because they passed out. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers expressed their thanks for the crowd’s participation in the evening’s events, taking a long time to all walk to the front of the stage, blow kisses, wave and pose for pictures. Six shows on the small stage came to an end and everyone in attendance will be forever grateful for the little piece of history they shared together here in Los Angeles, knowing this opportunity may never happen again. Go ahead… be jealous.

RUKUS • June 2013

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June 2013 • RUKUS

Victoria Elise Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up & hair by Bioanca Robinson

ictoria Elise was born on a military base in Wurzburg, Bavaria, Germany, but raised in El Paso, Texas. With a mix of African-American, Cherokee-Indian and French you know this girl stands out in a crowd. Growing up Victoria never thought of herself as the model-type, but after meeting a model from Los Angeles, California, she found herself wanting to try her hand at it, the rest, as they say, is history. Since that fateful meeting, she has been a ring-card girl, music video girl, tradeshow model and glamour model. Currently, you can find Victoria behind the bar at one of the hottest nightclubs in Las Vegas, inside Mandalay Bay. Her ultimate goal after her modeling career is done, is to become a Microbiologist. With her looks and personality, we’re not sure she’ll need to pursue anything else in life.

RUKUS • June 2013

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June 2013 • RUKUS

RUKUS • June 2013

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THE STATS Birthday: January 4 Zodiac Sign: Capricorn Measurements: 34C-24-38 Height: 5’6” Weight: 120lb Ethnicity: My father is African American and Cherokee-Indian and my mother is French. Hometown: El Paso, TX Turn Ons: When a man doesn’t try too hard, just be yourself. Turn Offs: Being arrogant and cocky. Everyone knows that one guy who thinks he’s all that. Ideal first date: I’m a simple girl who loves to eat. I’m happy with a home-cooked meal or even a hole-in-the-wall, candle lit, sushi joint. Guilty Pleasure: Sleep. I love to sleep all day. I’ll cuddle with my dog and sleep whenever I can. I’m always tired and I have a wonderful memory foam mattress that is practically an orgasm for my back. Pet Peeves: Getting hit on at work. I’m working! Yes, I’m nice to you, I’ll smile and make your beverage how you want, but there are literally 100s of beautiful women waiting out there in the club for you. Never hit on a bartender, there’s just no chance. Celebrity Pass: I’d have to say Jude Law. I’m a sucker for British accents!

See more of Victoria at twitter.com/EliseXOXO

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June 2013 • RUKUS

RUKUS • June 2013

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Phoenix Stanna Photography by Andrew Gates Make-up and hair by Bioanca Robinson Swimwear by Rich Bitch Bikinis

hoenix Stanna was born in Newport Beach, California. She is a mix of Caucasian and Native American. She started modeling when she was just five years old, although, she didn’t focused on making it her career until she was nominated by Bodyboarding magazine as “Surf Shop Hottie,” when she was spotted working at Kanvas by Katin, a local surf shop. Phoenix has done everything from pageants, promo-modeling, commercial work and fashion modeling. She’s taking her career serious and wants to push it to the next level. Currently, she’s been getting involved in Poker and Blackjack tournaments and hopes to expand on that, maybe even go pro. Phoenix is also interested in working in front of the video camera as a sports host, you know we’ll be tuning in when she’s on the mic.

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June 2013 • RUKUS

RUKUS • June 2013

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THE STATS Birthday: May 1 Zodiac Sign: Taurus Measurements: 34B-24-34 Height: 5’7” Weight: 118lb Ethnicity: Caucasian and Native American. Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA Turn Ons: A man in uniform. Turn Offs: Laziness. Ideal first date: The token question. [laugh] It depends on the person who is taking me; I love Harleys so a nice ride along Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) in Malibu or through the mountains of Topanga Canyon and maybe finish it off with some sushi. Guilty Pleasure: Red Wine. I am not that far away from some really great winery’s, along the central coast, it’s a great getaway with girlfriends or a nice escape alone. Pet Peeves: I hate when I am called babe and I just met you. Celebrity Pass: Chuck Zito because who doesn’t want to date a bad boy. See more of Phoenix at www.Phoenixstanna.com

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June 2013 • RUKUS

Terror Train Written by Jesse Seilhan

The best apocalypse stories are not those that focus on the monsters created by nuclear fallout or mutated by chemicals, but the demons that live within the surviving humans. Facing the fear of men and women driven to the brink of death is always more frightening than an 80-foot beast, and Metro: Last Light understands this better than most games. Metro blends the supernatural and the mortal very well, offering a small look into the rugged lives of survivors before offering a wide variety of monsters to dispatch. The spiders are gross, the feral beasts are wicked, and the boss battles are large and ammo-depleting. The humans can be just as horrible, which is the strength of this game’s story. You fight the Nazis, the Communists, and a variety of other unhelpful sort on your way from the far ends of the underground Russian train system to your home base. Your character will change and grow as he faces Earth’s worst enemies and you will feel accomplished before the final credits roll. You do not need to have played the original Metro 2033 before venturing into Last Light, as the characters and mission briefs before each chapter do a great job of summarizing the prior game. Even better, your character is of the non-speaking variety so others constantly expel information directly at your face whether you like it or not. Eventually the entire plot is spilled out before you as the narrative follows an extremely linear plot, which is good for comprehension but bad for exploration. Being able to traverse down various metro tunnels would be awesome, but not every game can unravel into a Fallout-type universe. There is not a multiplayer element here, so all of the time and effort was spent making sure that the main campaign was tight and without error. The shooting mechanics feel tight enough to get the job done, but the game is fairly easy on the default difficulty settings. The weaponry is varied, from basic pistols and shotguns to pneumatic rifles and throwing knives. Stealth is a huge element of this game, as you can complete the whole thing without killing a single human, so sneaking up and knocking a guy out or stabbing him in the neck is a valid strategy. Lights can be turned off, destroyed, or even unscrewed if you are close enough. Enemies react to stray sounds and movements, but the blue display on your watch lets you know if you are in danger of being seen or not. That very same watch monitors how long you have left to breathe using your current gas mask filter, so keeping an eye on it is crucial to your survival in harsh situations. Wearing a gas mask when topside ensures you will live another day, but it can crack and get dirty while mowing down enemies, so changing it with a fresh one or wiping it off in order to regain visibility is an important mechanic. This all helps solidify the idea that your character is not Master Chief or any other number of random Rambo-inspired badasses: he is a fallible and ultimately human character that can make mistakes. It’s this focus on the frail and wicked nature of humanity that makes Metro remarkable. This is not a vapid Call of Duty storyline or a fantastical thrill ride like Halo. This is a series grounded in horror with an Eastern European supernatural flair, a combination that really makes for a fun and interesting game.

RUKUS • June 2013

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June 2013 • RUKUS

RUKUS • June 2013

www.RUKUSmag.com

Enter The Dragon Written by Josh Schilling

Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon is a stand-alone expansion of Far Cry 3 and you can get it for $15 from Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network or Windows even without owning Far Cry 3. While there are a smattering of similarities to its progenitor, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon differs wildly in just about every aspect. The main difference is that instead of playing as a boring dude-bro named Jason Brody, you play as a Cyber Commando named Rex Power Colt, and that name alone should give you a taste of where this game wants to take you. This is a violent machismo-fueled homage to the great 1980’s action movies as the game comes nowhere close to taking itself seriously. It is a joyous, bloody romp that will probably make you laugh out loud. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon relies on the typical first-person-shooter formula and it is set in a fairly decent-sized open world, but the game makes up for this homogenized base by immersing you into a brightly colored 80’s-style, retro-futuristic gun-fest. It heaves NES-esque 8-bit cut-scenes at you with a lead character that is voiced by action movie icon Michael Beihn, and you can lob a d20 die in order to distract your enemies. The dialogue is genuinely funny without being stupid, and the main story is a crazy, twistyturny adventure. This game is Borderlands on cocaine and succeeds mainly because it is so completely dedicated to its outlandish, bloody, neon theme. This game is not without its flaws, but a few glitchy bugs and ho-hum mechanics are not enough to detract from the overall presentation of Blood Dragon. The selection of weapons is pretty standard, and you have the all-too-familiar choices of bursting into a battle with guns blazing or adopting a stealthier approach. In some cases, you have the option of luring a dragon into the fray and watching it destroy your enemies while they electronically exclaim “holy crap.” The overall game is only about 8 hours if you play straight through, although there are a few collectibles if you so desire, but like just about everything else in this game, the collectibles are funny and unique in their own right. Some games want you to kill at least one of the various fauna in the area, but in other games do they have Devil Goats, Cyber Sharks, Robo Crocodiles or Mutated Cassowaries? If you like over-the-top, then this is the game for you. I could go on and on about the many outrageous tidbits about this game, but I won’t, you just have to experience it for yourself. It’s an incredible value for only $15, and it is a must play for any serious gamer. Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon will fill you with layers of memorable moments that, like a good cheesy action movie, will have you repeating the phrases and situations to your friends ad nauseam. This is a game that will have legs, and I will wager that word of mouth is going to make this game into a classic, just like many of the action films that this game honors.

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June 2013 • RUKUS

Exclusive Coverage Written by Jesse Seilhan

E3 is always gaming’s biggest moment. It allows the main developers, publishers, and manufacturers to gather their audience around and get them excited for the one surefire money-making quarter, one that starts before Thanksgiving and ends in January. All of the major players have dozens of games on hand to show off to the press, their fan base, and those looking to the future of the industry. This year, Sony and Microsoft debuted two new consoles, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, pitted head-to-head in a holiday war for your living room. Sony offered a cheaper box that features a ton of first-party games while Microsoft stole a few exclusives away from Sony and offers a progressive take on the digital future. Both came out swinging but by the end of the show, Sony’s cheaper and less-controversial model looked to be victorious. We all know that the systems don’t mean squat if the games suck, so let’s take a look at some of the best stuff RUKUS Magazine saw during E3.

RUKUS • June 2013

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The most exciting new title was definitely Titanfall, a first-person shooter that has more mobility than Mirror’s Edge and more mechs than Pacific Rim. This is the first title from Respawn Entertainment, a company built from the ashes of Infinity Ward co-founders’ fallout with Activision. In their first game since the Modern Warfare series, the Call of Duty professors are delivering something truly unique in the heavily-contested shooter sphere. The graphics are brilliant, the gameplay is frantic and fluid, and the mix of single-player and multiplayer looks more persistent and engaging than any rehashed modern military shooter.

Speaking of modern military shooter, the battle of Battlefield vs. Call of Duty raged on, with both titles showcasing a new engine and attention to detail. Call of Duty: Ghosts didn’t seem to steer too far from the course, whereas BF4 is allowing 64-players on next-generation consoles and a new Commander Mode that allows one player to dictate the strategy of his or her team. The next best title is definitely Bungie’s first series since Halo changed the world, and it is called Destiny. It is a shared-world shooter that supports at ton of players (the demo we saw had seven people holding PS4 controllers) and has all the loot-grinding and public events that games like Borderlands and Defiance have made popular. The graphics are stellar and should get even better before now and next Spring, when the game is due. If they can recapture the gameplay bliss that was the original Halo but take the connectivity and role-playing to another level, then Destiny will be the franchise of the next console war. www.RUKUSmag.com

June 2013 • RUKUS

EA would not be ignored, however, as their new Impact Engine was fueling their Madden, FIFA, and NBA Live displays running on the next-gen consoles. This graphics engine pumps way more realism into each game, giving dynamic crowds the chance to be a part of the action, as opposed to the cardboard-cutout seat-fillers from prior iterations. All three will be featured on all four consoles, but only the PS4 and Xbox One will get the fancy stuff. They also had a playable version of NHL 14, a game that’s shaping up nicely with all new fighting, checking, and deking mechanics. The fights are now all in real-time and use their Fight Night programming, the checking is based on their FIFA tackling system, and the dekeing is relegated to one button instead of one button and two sticks. These changes should bring more fans to the fold and let veteran players get even better at an already addicting game.

Bethesda was in full force yet again, showing off a trio of titles that includes Wolfenstein: The New Order, The Evil Within, and The Elder Scrolls Online. The latter is an MMORPG that they’ve been showing for over a year and looks mostly like the exact same thing they showed prior, but big shows like this are not the best place to show 1,000-hour RPG’s that require personality and dedication. Wolfenstein is a return to form, with Nazi-killing in the limelight as well as some pretty awesome weaponry that mixes up lasers and plasma ammo with the standard ballistic munitions. The graphics were better-than-normal, but the faces and character models were not up to par with games that have been out for years. The Evil Within is a survival-horror game where the players are placed in an insane world filled with monsters, chainsaw-wielding maniacs, and a world-bending narrative that constantly keeps you guessing. It didn’t look very fun, which isn’t a bad thing: the game is designed to make you uneasy and hopefully scare you into submission. While Fallout 4 was nowhere to be seen, that is the game most Bethesda fans are dying to see and will have to wait at least one more year.

RUKUS • June 2013

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Beyond first-person shooters, third-person action games had plenty of showings in Los Angeles. The Marvel anti-hero Deadpool stars in his own game, giving some comedy and sharp writing to a bland genre filled with generic characters and dull combos. His in-game antics and consistent breaking of the “fourth wall” makes for a unique gameplay experience, even if the ten-minute demo I played had me shoot what looked to be the exact same enemy hundreds of times. Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z is Tecmo’s attempt to reboot the franchise with a new art style (cel-shaded), story direction (sillier than serious), and the same old Ryu Hayabusa. The demo featured the same frustrating enemies and tried-and-true Dragon Sword combos from every other Ninja Gaiden game, showing little creativity beyond the newer graphics. I’d probably skip that game and pick up Suda51’s Killer is Dead instead. This is a game unlike any other, with a storyline akin to the wildest Japanese anime, creating memorable characters on a per-level basis and giving the fulfilling swordplay usually found in Ninja Gaiden.

Konami had a small showing this year, showing off the newest edition of Metal Gear Solid. The fifth entry is dubbed The Phantom Pain and stars Kiefer Sutherland as the new voice of Solid Snake, something that has sparked some controversy with longtime MGS fans. Konami had two more sequels lined up for the next calendar year in PES 2014 and Castlevania: Lords of Shadow 2. While the soccer game is just more soccer (although this time it’s using the Metal Gear Solid engine), Castlevania looks to really step it up this go-round. Dracula is back but this time in a modern setting, letting the player take control of the vamp baddy and reign supreme. The puzzles look bigger, the enemies more ferocious, and the semi-open world more enticing than the very linear original title. www.RUKUSmag.com

June 2013 • RUKUS

Racing is always on display when new consoles are part of the conversation, and we had another entry into the Need for Speed, Forza, and Gran Turismo franchises announced. A few new challengers have stepped up, including Ubisoft’s The Crew and Sony’s Driveclub, games built around community before anything else, offering fun ways to complete missions with your friends or be part of a larger driving network. Beyond how a game looks is how it sounds, and Astro and Skullcandy were at the expo to show off their new and existing line of audio headwear. For the under $200 club is Skullcandy’s sleek series: the Plyr and the Slyr. These wired and wireless headsets aren’t too heavy, have a movable microphone, and look cooler than most headsets on the market. For those willing to invest a little more in their gaming experience, the Astro line of headsets (A30, A40, and A50’s) are the top-ofthe-line option. Their 5.8GHz (read: super clear) wireless technology, swappable mic, Dolby processor, and stellar comfort change the way you play videogames. If it’s good enough for the top Major League Gaming players, then it is good enough for you during those late night Call of Duty sessions.

RUKUS • June 2013

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In the end, both companies featured a ton of new games that happen to be sequels or remakes. Killer Instinct, Halo 5, and Dead Rising 3 came from Microsoft’s show while Sony announced another Gran Turismo. Some of the biggest games announced (Final Fantasy XV, Kingdom Hearts 3, Mad Max) are going to be on at least both of the new consoles, not to mention your PC. Since the games were so similar and nothing really won the software war, it came down to price and feature set and Sony won this round coming out at $399 and allowing all used games, never requiring an online-connection for offline play, and offering region-free gaming for all of their consumers. The Xbox One will run you $499 and had the opposite of all of Sony’s stances, until they changed their entire philosophy one week later, meaning both systems will now allow used games, not require installs or online checks, and will be available in any region and work with any disc.

So now that we have two Blu-ray based machines with 500gb hard drives and a plethora of cool games, who will emerge victorious? That’s up to you, but the wonderful thing is that no matter which one you pick, you can bet that digital versions will be offered on day one of a game’s release and that those pesky online passes certain publishers were fond of are things of the past. We are ushering in a new generation of videogames, one built on the idea of connectivity, user-generated content, and enhanced immersion. This year’s E3 did a lot to breathe life back into a stale industry, so prepare for an insane holiday season where hundreds of games will be available for half-a-dozen platforms. RM www.RUKUSmag.com

June 2013 • RUKUS

Best of E3 Thief Square-Enix is helping to reboot this classic stealth franchise, largely thanks to the popularity of the Assassins Creed, Hitman, and Dishonored franchises. The one that started it all is looking to show off some impressive graphics, tweaks on traditional movement, and adaptive gameplay that allows players to explore environments in many different ways. It’s looking like Eidos is trying to move the genre ahead with verticality and versatility. Destiny Bungie has made some fantastic games, none more impressive than the original Halo. They look to follow-up their last epic with another, Destiny, a game being released on nearly every platform but built for the next generation of connectivity and gameplay. The shared-world first-person-shooting looks immersive as all hell and the visual fidelity and sense of scope is mind-blowing. This might be the Game of the Year for 2014 so keep an eye on it. The Evil Within Survival horror has been surviving horribly these past few years, ever since Resident Evil 4 came around and made it fun again. Well, the man behind RE4 is back with a new game built to please horror fans, putting your character in some of the most twisted situations imaginable, playing mind games and splattering buckets of blood along the way. The combat looks light, the tension looks high, and nothing is going to creep you out as much as this game. Titanfall Respawn Entertainment finally unveiled what they’ve been working on since departing the Modern Warfare series and Titanfall is the answer. Mech-based combat gets an overhaul when you can leave your giant robot to do some shooting on the ground, including hijacking the mechs using some nifty parkour. The game looks gorgeous and seems to have the type of combat needed to sustain a thriving online community. inFamous: Second Son The sequel to Sony’s best open-world franchise is taking the frantic and fulfilling gameplay to the max with a main character that syphons other people’s powers. This leaves a doorway to numerable moves and attacks, all built within a gorgeous Seattle landscape and told through motion-captured actors. This might be the best reason to buy a PlayStation 4 thus far as it looks like a true step forward. Saints Row IV The over-the-top franchise is going to have a tough time topping their last game, but making the main character the President of the United States and giving him super powers is a great start. The demo I played put a dubstep gun, a black hole launcher, and a lightsaber in my hands. Add in super powers like flight, telekinesis, and super speed, and you have the makings for another top-notch experience, especially given Volition’s track record of delivering ridiculous and fantastic missions within their twisted story.

RUKUS • June 2013

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June 2013 • RUKUS