• As always, the greatest photos are the ones we don't know are being taken.
• This rule was true for the royal wedding as the royal family and their friends were snapped around the ceremony.
• Scroll down to see the best shots.

The royals and A-list celebrities were out in force for the marriage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

The Queen stood out in a bright lime green outfit, Prince George wore a fetching replica of his dad's military frock coat, and Kate Middleton kept it simple in an Alexander McQueen coat.

Meanwhile, Oprah, David Beckham, and Elton John were all caught on camera throughout the day.

Scroll down for the best candid shots of the royal family and their guests during the wedding event of the year.

SEE ALSO: The Queen arrived at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in lime green and she certainly stands out

As celebrities poured into the chapel, it was national treasure David Beckham who stole headlines for looking unbelievably suave in his three-piece suit and shades.

One viral tweet read: "You can't let another man come to your wedding with this much sauce.
Outrageous I'll call security."

The ex-footballer was later spotted chatting to Sir Elton John.

Sir Elton (photographed here with fellow singer James Blunt) was a close friend of Prince Harry's mother, Princess Diana. He later performed at the lunchtime reception for the new couple and sang four of his biggest hits.

Source: Business Insider.

If you're a bit tired of movies dominated by only male characters, Netflix has you covered. 

On Tuesday, the streaming service shared a list of its favorite movies "with a strong female lead" currently available in its catalog.

The list includes the horror flick "The Babadook," Tim Burton's "Big Eyes," and the critically acclaimed love story "Carol." The movies star the likes of "Lady Bird" director Greta Gerwig, Cate Blanchett, Amy Adams, and Lupita Nyong'o.

We've rounded up the films below in order of release date, and included the Netflix description and Rotten Tomatoes critic score for each film to help you better choose what to stream.

Below are 15 movies with strong female leads currently available on Netflix:

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' actress Kelly Marie Tran deleted all her Instagram posts after months of harassment

"She's Gotta Have It" (1986)

Netflix description: "A free-spirited woman can't choose between a trio of ill-suited suitors: relationship-minded Jamie, shallow male model Greer and bike messenger Mars."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%

"Boys on the Side" (1995)

Netflix description: "Looking to jump-start her career, a lesbian nightclub singer accompanies a woman with AIDS on a cross-country drive from New York to Los Angeles."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 73%

"Cruel Intentions" (1999)

Netflix description: "Quenching a thirst for dangerous games, a promiscuous teen challenges her stepbrother to deflower their headmaster's daughter before summer ends."

Rotten Tomatoes score: 48%

"Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom" doesn't come to theaters for another two weeks, but early reviews suggest audiences will either hate it or love it. 

Critics are split on the sequel to 2015's "Jurassic World," which is currently the fifth-highest-grossing movie of all time (it was recently topped by "Avengers: Infinity War"). That's a tough act to follow for "Fallen Kingdom," and while some critics feel it is an improvement over its predecessor, others had very strong negative reactions.

Indiewire's David Ehrlich in a tweet on Tuesday called the movie "a tedious, infuriating, and braindead ordeal."

But the movie stands at 66% on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes as of Wednesday morning, so not all of the reviews are that harsh.

Below are more reactions to "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom," which comes to theaters June 22:

SEE ALSO: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi' actress Kelly Marie Tran deleted all her Instagram posts after months of harassment

"At one point, I began to get excited that this might prove to be an angrier film than its predecessor, more pointed ... but it all just hangs there like so much else in this movie, undeveloped concepts that could one day be turned into a genuinely exciting, surprising film."

Bilge Ebiri, The Village Voice

"Pratt is a charismatic, good-looking, funny guy, and he might be a real star if he could only get one or two good roles and sever himself from lucrative formula junk like this."

Dan Callahan, The Wrap

"If Bayona was stealthily trying to make a blockbuster where we root for the monsters to eat everyone, he couldn’t have done a much better job."

Matt Singer, ScreenCrush

Film critics are lauding "Hereditary," a new horror film from A24 starring Toni Collette and Gabriel Byrne.

Collette and Byrne star as Annie and Steve Graham, the parents of a family that becomes haunted by sinister, supernatural forces and the dark secrets of their ancestry following the death of the family's matriarch, Annie's mother. 

Written and directed by Ari Aster, the film is even receiving Oscar buzz for Collette's performance, along with praise for Aster's inflicting of "psychic damage" through innovations on horror genre tropes.

"Hereditary" currently has a 93% "fresh" rating on the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. 

The film opens nationwide on Friday. 

Here are several reviews of "Hereditary," which one critic is calling "a new generation's 'The Exorcist'": 

SEE ALSO: Audiences think Netflix original movies are 'meaningfully worse' than most studio releases

"In its sense of poisoned family bloodlines, of the everyday invaded by unspeakable evil, of bonechilling terror you won't be able to shake, 'Hereditary' is a new horror landmark. Toni Collette should have Oscar calling."

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

"In the end, horror and supernatural fans will certainly get their thrills, but it's the psychic damage on the screen that will make the film hard to forget.

David Lewis, San Francisco Chronicle

"Hereditary is so refreshing in part because it invents its own scare vocabulary."

Inkoo Kang, Slate

• Variety reported Tuesday that a "Suicide Squad" Joker spin-off movie starring Jared Leto is in the works.
• People were quick to hilariously tear apart the idea on Twitter.
• This isn't the only Joker solo movie in the works: "The Hangover" director Todd Phillips is set to make another one.

Variety reported Tuesday that Jared Leto's Joker from "Suicide Squad" is getting his own movie, and it didn't take long for people to hilariously tear apart the idea on Twitter.

Leto's Joker was already thoroughly mocked in 2016 when "Suicide Squad" was released for the character's minimal screen time, even though Leto stayed in character throughout filming and tormented his co-stars. Leto reportedly sent the likes of condoms, anal beads, and a dead pig to his co-stars.

But that apparently isn't stopping Warner Bros. from pursuing a standalone movie where Leto can flex his method acting even more, despite another Joker movie already being in development. Variety reported in February that Joaquin Phoenix was in talks to play the character for an origin film from "The Hangover" director Todd Phillips.

Below are some of the funniest reactions:

SEE ALSO: 'Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom' is either a braindead movie that will make you root for the monsters or fun escapism, depending on which critic you ask

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: A Nobel Prize-winning economist explains what Milton Friedman got wrong

Are you ready for a bunch of new games for Sony's PlayStation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One? Because they're coming!

On the cusp of their respective five-year anniversaries, the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 are going head-to-head once more at the annual video game trade show E3 in mid-June. 

But, thanks in part to a massive leak and in part to Sony just outright talking about its plans, we already know a lot about what Sony and Microsoft plan to show this year. 

Here's a look at what to expect from both PlayStation 4 and Xbox One at E3 2018:

Sony's plans for E3 2018, broadly speaking:

Sony's annual E3 press briefing on all things PlayStation is Monday, June 11 at 9:00 p.m. EST / 6:00 p.m. PDT.

As always, Sony will broadcast its briefing on several platforms — Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook are all hosting streams of the event. 

The E3 briefing is Sony's annual opportunity to announce major PlayStation games, show off upcoming games, and — generally speaking — address its most loyal fans directly. It's the kind of event where Sony might reveal a major new "Uncharted" game (for example only — it's unlikely that a new "Uncharted" game shows up anytime soon). 

Usually, it's an event full of surprise reveals intended to wow viewers. But at E3 2018, Sony is doing something different: Telling everyone ahead of time what it's going to show. Madness!

Here's Sony's full line-up:

"Death Stranding"

What is "Death Stranding"? That's a great question. Even though I've seen several trailers for the game, I have no idea what it is.

Here's what we know for sure:

— The game is being created by "Metal Gear" series creative lead Hideo Kojima, a legendary character in the video game business.
— It stars Norman Reedus, of "The Walking Dead" fame. He's the main character. Mads Mikkelsen, a Danish actor best known as the bad guy from "Casino Royale," appears to be the antagonist.
— The game is a collaboration between Hideo Kojima and famed film director Guillermo del Toro.
— It's being funded by Sony, which means the game is only coming to the PlayStation 4.

Is it a first-person or third-person game? A survival game? Open world, or linear? All of this stuff is still up in the air.

Here's an eight minute trailer for "Death Stranding" — if you can piece it together, more power to you!

Youtube Embed:
//www.youtube.com/embed/XcuFJXgU6cA
Width: 800px
Height: 450px

• "Silicon Valley's" Jian-Yang has been a hit among fans and critics since his introduction, but saw an expanded role in season five of the HBO show.
• Actor Jimmy O. Yang spoke with Business Insider about what he loves about the character, his newly published memoir about his immigrant experience, and an upcoming role in blockbuster "Crazy Rich Asians." 

The character of Jian-Yang, played by Jimmy O. Yang, has been a fan favorite on HBO’s “Silicon Valley” since the start, but reached new heights as a delightful ruffian in season five.

Before this season, Jian-Yang had mostly existed as a comedic foil to TJ Miller’s blowhard Erlich Bachman character, but with Miller’s exit from the show, he got to take control of his own destiny. And boy did he.

“I think it turned out to be a blessing in disguise,” Yang said of Miller’s departure, as Jian-Yang became “more of a villain, not just a pain in the a-- to TJ, but to everyone else." 

Yang, in real life, has had his own career ascent (by much less nefarious means). He's not only snagged roles in movies like the upcoming adaptation of “Crazy Rich Asians,” but also published a memoir on his experience immigrating to the United States at 13, and making it in Hollywood, which came out in March.

That path wasn’t easy, but Yang’s success has run counter to a maxim his dad loved to quote when he was growing up: “Pursuing your dreams is how you become homeless.” That hasn't been true for Yang — at least, not yet. And part of Yang's success in a tough business is certainly due to his charisma and casual hilariousness, which are evident as soon as you start talking to him.

Business Insider caught up with Yang in advance of the release of “Silicon Valley” season five on all digital platforms on June 11. We talked about what he loves about that “a------” character Jian-Yang, his ambitions and upcoming projects, and the casting director he’d be totally down to fight.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Nathan McAlone: What was the audition process like for you at the beginning of “Silicon Valley,” back before season one?

Jimmy O. Yang: The original audition for it was a few months before the show even got picked up. The original pilot was a totally different script and Jian-Yang was totally different, actually one of the main characters. He was described as a Taiwanese guy who cursed like a pirate. He was one of the main dudes. Then I never heard back from the auditions. I just moved on and then a few months later, I got another audition for the same part, but the show had already been shooting — I think this was episode three — and it had become a smaller part. But deep down I was hoping it would revert back to whatever the original character was, that they had big goals for this guy. I was just really happy to get that three-line part at first.

McAlone: When did you have an indication that his role was going to be expanded? Was that based on them liking your interpretation of the character?

Yang: I think it’s a little bit of that. They saw that I was able to work with the guys pretty well. They were starting to see the chemistry of me and TJ [Miller, who played Erlich Bachman]. But between season one and two, I had no idea whether I was even going to come back for the second season. There was this whole crazy thing that happened where I was offered to be a series regular on a Yahoo show — some streaming content. But the problem is there’s always exclusivity, especially with streaming services, so it was either I was going to do the Yahoo show and maybe not come back to “Silicon Valley,” or take a chance with “Silicon Valley” and not do the Yahoo show. And I took a chance with “Silicon Valley,” and luckily they believed in me enough and I became a series regular the second season.

McAlone: I have a hard time telling, but how much of the banter of the characters on the show is improvised versus heavily scripted?

Yang: I think it’s a few things. The scripts are written really brilliantly. It’s one of the best-written shows I think on TV right now. And they also let us improv for sure, especially scenes with me and TJ, we would come up with different ideas. We get one take that's of the script and everything else we can play around and have fun doing. And then the third part is [producers] Alec [Berg] or Mike [Judge] or Clay [Tarver], or somebody like that,  is on set and will give us some alt lines as we are going, which helps also. There’s a three-part comedy dynamic that makes the show really work.

McAlone: Were you apprehensive going into this season without TJ at all, or were you ready to branch out from that dynamic that you guys had?

Yang: I was definitely sad when I found out TJ wasn't coming back because he was my partner on the show and we had such a good dynamic going. But I think it turned out to be a blessing in disguise, seeing Jian-Yang becoming more of a villain not just a pain in the a-- to TJ, but to everyone else.

McAlone: Did you do much research into what the Chinese tech scene was like this season, for that side-plot?

Yang: I visited a bunch of startups in the off-season last year, talked to VCs, toured campuses of different places. And one of the main questions I was asking them was, “What is the China market like?” I got a lot of good information, like hardware: their hardware game is way superior production-wise to ours. But their software is a lot of what the show has showed you so far: it’s a little bit like “new internet,” “the new new internet,” “the new facebook,” whatever. Just doing stuff for the Chinese market because of government restrictions.

McAlone: I know when you inhabit a character in a TV show for many seasons, you grow a certain fondness for them. Are there particular things you are going to miss about stepping into this role on a regular basis when the show ends?

Yang: I think there's something great about being a dick on screen. There are no consequences, which is awesome. I think a part of us kind of wants to do that. Because he’s so straightforward and he doesn't care about hurting people’s feelings. I wish I could be more like that in real life in the off-season. But it’s kind of liberating to inhabit that.

McAlone: I know a lot of people who just love your character, do people stop you on the street?

Yang: Yeah, they scream out random things. They say, “God d----- Jian-Yang,” or like “not now.” A lot of TJ Miller sayings. They’ll say, “Not hot dog.” I’m a very different person in real life. I think Jian-Yang is kind of a version of myself 15 years ago, when I first came to this country. Now I’m a lot more Americanized and I would like to think I'm a much nicer person than he is. I think. People are sometimes surprised that I'm not actually that guy.

McAlone: What do you think people find so funny about him? For me, his character is so much beyond an accent. What do people tell you resonates with them about the character?

Yang: You don't see it coming, which is half of what comedy is. He is this quiet, seemingly nice kid, but he is pretty diabolical. I think it was earned because early in the seasons Erlich just gave him so much s--- and was trying to bully him. But it became a “David versus Goliath” story where he kept getting the upper hand, which is I think why people like the character throughout the years. Especially going up with big personalities like Erlich's character and Gavin’s character. There's something fun about that.

McAlone: You wrote a memoir [titled “How to American: An Immigrant's Guide to Disappointing Your Parents”]. What initially made you want to write a book and what was the process like for you?

Yang: It was very nice. It was a lot about my immigrant story, coming to this country as an outsider and also making it in Hollywood as an outsider, and not really expecting to do this at all. I went to school for economics and especially in Asian culture it's not really a viable job for my family to be an artist. Like my dad would always say, “Pursuing your dreams is how you become homeless.” An old-school Chinese dude. I just thought there is not too much material that is just an honest, funny immigrant story. And for me it was really tough to pursue what I love, and it worked out to some degree, and I want to share the story. Hopefully other kids whose parents have that old-school mentality can relate to the story, other immigrants can relate to the story so they don't feel so weird about themselves. It was a really rewarding process.

McAlone: When you are an actor, you are making yourself vulnerable in very different ways than if you're writing a memoir. Were there any elements you were nervous to write about?

Yang: I made sure to give everybody props that were deserved — like everyone on “Silicon Valley.” But certain people that I ran into in the business … like what the f--- is his name, the guy who cast “Modern Family,” Jeff Greenberg or something. He was a real f------ a------. And I just told the story how it was. He just yelled at me when I was this really young actor, and for no f------ reason, whereas the other casting directors have been really cool and nice. No, not really nervous. If Jeff Greenberg wants to call me and confront me about it, I’ll fight him.

McAlone: You said you are very different from your character on “Silicon Valley,” is there anyone else in the cast that you think people would be super surprised how they are in real life?

Yang: Oh, interesting. I say I'm a bit different. I think on the surface I’m a bit different, but deep down I might be a dick also. Who knows. Zach [Woods, who plays Jared] is the kindest, nicest, most intelligent guy. And in a way you can kind of see that in the show, even though he’s nothing like the Jared character. Everyone is kind of like that. It’s a very exaggerated version of yourself.

McAlone: You’re in the upcoming movie adaptation of “Crazy Rich Asians” [in theaters August 15], how did you get involved and what was shooting like?

Yang: Well, being one out of three Asian people on TV. [Laughs]. No, it’s a really cool project and it’s a really important project. It’s the first studio movie in 25 years, since “Joy Luck Club,” to feature a full Asian cast. So when I heard the movie was being made, I was really stoked and I called my managers and I said, “Guys I know I’m a character actor, but let me audition for the leading role, I think I can do it.” My managers were like, “I don't know, Jimmy. I don't know how to tell you this, but they're looking for a good-looking guy for the leading role.” I was like, “Whatever, I get it.” I ended up auditioning for this character, Bernard Tai, he’s kind of the worst. They are forced to hang out with him. He's a ladies man in a way, playboy, bad boy — very cool and fun for me to play.

McAlone: Were they instantly into you getting the role or did it take some convincing?

Yang: They took a chance I think, because Bernard was supposed to be fat, physically and personality wise this massive a------. But they know I can take this character to the next level, which is great for them to trust me on that.

McAlone: Now that you’re a known entity in Hollywood, with the success of “Silicon Valley” and other roles, and can maybe take a breath and see which direction you want to go in, what projects do you think you’ll gravitate toward?

Yang: A lot of more meaningful projects. You know something like “Patriots Day” that I did a few years ago, which is a drama, is very different than comedy. That was super rewarding. I want to do more of that and also my own writing. I have some scripts, I’m putting a couple of projects together with people I want to work with. I think that's the most exciting part, when you can hopefully create your own content and find the people that you love that you get to work with.

SEE ALSO: We got Gilfoyle's entire PowerPoint presentation explaining cryptocurrency from HBO's 'Silicon Valley,' and it's both useful and hilarious

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This 19-year-old opened a restaurant with a $155 tasting menu

• MoviePass owner Helios and Matheson has been routinely hitting lows. 
• It touched a record low of $0.335 a share on Wednesday. 
• Watch HMNY trade in real time here.

MoviePass owner Helios & Matheson keep falling deeper and deeper into the abyss. 

Shares touched a record low of $0.335 on Wednesday, accounting for a drop of more than 14%. For context they hit an all-time high of $32.90 apiece shortly after MoviePass was acquired in October. 

The stock got a temporary boost of more than 6% last week when Citadel Securities announced it had amassed a 5.4% stake in the company. It hit $0.44 that day, but has has been in a downward spiral ever since as the company's cash burn remains at the top of investors' minds.

In mid-April, an internal auditor said there was "substantial doubt" the company would be able to stay in business. A few weeks later, the company said it burns about $21.7 million a month, and that its shrinking cash pile is down to $15.5 million.

MoviePass CEO Mitch Lowe has suggested the company will climb its way out of the hole by using its $300 million "equity line of credit," but financial experts told Business Insider that cash won't necessarily be there when needed.

The stock has lost 95.07% of its value this year. 

SEE ALSO: 'I want us to be the Amazon of mobility': Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi talks global expansion, changing behavior, and flying taxis

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Sneaky ways Costco gets you to buy more

• President Donald Trump has granted clemency to Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old grandmother serving a life sentence for nonviolent drug offenses.
• Trump granted the clemency one week after meeting with Kim Kardashian West, who has publicly championed Johnson's case.
• Johnson told Business Insider on Tuesday that she was still waiting with bated breath for news of Trump's decision: "I'm hanging in here and won't let go until I walk out of these doors!"

Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old grandmother serving a life sentence in prison for nonviolent drug offenses she committed in the 1990s, will finally be free.

President Donald Trump commuted Johnson's sentence on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement. The move came one week after Trump met with the reality-TV star Kim Kardashian West, who has for months been championing Johnson's release.

"Ms. Johnson has accepted responsibility for her past behavior and has been a model prisoner over the past two decades. Despite receiving a life sentence, Alice worked hard to rehabilitate herself in prison, and act as a mentor to her fellow inmates," the White House statement said. "While this Administration will always be very tough on crime, it believes that those who have paid their debt to society and worked hard to better themselves while in prison deserve a second chance."

Kardashian West and her attorney Shawn Holley won a highly sought-after meeting with Trump after weeks of negotiations with Trump's son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner, Business Insider previously reported. The talks came shortly after Kardashian West's husband, the rapper Kanye West, made waves in the media for declaring his fervent support for Trump.

Kardashian West delivered the news to Johnson in a phone call on Wednesday, Holley told Business Insider in a statement.

"I just got off the most wonderful, emotional, and amazing phone call with Alice, Kim, and Alice's lawyers," Holley said. "It was a moment I will never forget. Once Alice's family joined the call, the tears never stopped flowing."

Johnson's daughter Catina Scales told Business Insider she was en route to pick up her mother from the Aliceville correctional facility in Alabama, where Johnson is expected to be released on Wednesday.

"I have been literally shaking ever since I heard this news — this is the best present anyone could have gave me in my life," Scales said. "Nothing will ever trump this feeling."

Johnson told Business Insider on Tuesday that she had been waiting with bated breath for news about her case since Trump and Kardashian West's meeting.

"I'm still waiting to exhale!" she said in an email from prison. "I'm hanging in here and won't let go until I walk out of these doors!"

Kardashian West celebrated the news on Wednesday on Twitter.

Johnson, who has corresponded with Business Insider regularly in recent months about the developments in her case, said Kardashian West's involvement was nothing short of miraculous.

"I don't even know myself what emotions I will really feel when this happens," Johnson said in April. "She has embraced my cause and taken to heart my plight. Kim has been my war angel, and I'll never forget what she is doing for me."

In a follow-up tweet on Wednesday, Kardashian West thanked Trump and Kushner for their efforts on Johnson's case.

"So grateful to @realDonaldTrump, Jared Kushner & to everyone who has showed compassion & contributed countless hours to this important moment for Ms. Alice Marie Johnson," she tweeted. "Her commutation is inspirational & gives hope to so many others who are also deserving of a second chance."

Another of Johnson's daughters, Tretessa Johnson, told Business Insider that her family would never forget Trump's mercy.

"It just hit her: She's finally walking out of that place, and it's not going to be in a casket," Tretessa said. "This is literally saving her life. There was no parole; it was a life sentence. She was slated to die in prison. The mercy Trump has extended toward my mom, and the advocacy of Kim Kardashian, my family will never forget that. Never."

Alice has said she wants to advocate sentencing reform upon her release, Tretessa said, because there are thousands of other people serving similarly lengthy sentences for first-time, nonviolent drug offenses — and they shouldn't be forgotten.

"There are many other Alice Johnsons out there," Tretessa said. "Please keep praying."

'Wholeness for me and my family again'

Johnson's case has long been held up as an overwhelmingly worthy candidate for clemency by legal experts, lawyers, prison staff members, and advocates of criminal-justice reform.

Though Johnson petitioned President Barack Obama for clemency three times, she was always denied.

"My family has been broken beyond what anyone can imagine," Johnson said last month. "A commutation would mean wholeness for me and my family again."

She has been described not only as an extreme example of the type of harsh mandatory-minimum sentencing that emerged in the 1980s and '90s to punish drug crimes, but as the embodiment of a reformed and repentant prisoner with the skills and support to successfully reenter society.

Johnson is an ordained minister, a playwright, a mentor, a counselor, a tutor, and a companion for inmates who are suicidal, and she didn't commit a single disciplinary infraction in two decades in prison, staff members at Aliceville who have supported her clemency said in 2016 in several letters viewed by Business Insider.

Kardashian West first took an interest in Johnson's case last October, when she saw a viral video published by Mic in which Johnson gave an interview via Skype. Kardashian West shared the video with her 60 million Twitter followers and retained Holley to work on Johnson's case.

"Alice's case appeals to Kim (and most people who hear about it) because her sentence was so disproportionate to her crime," Holley told Business Insider last month. "Alice was a first-time offender, convicted of a nonviolent crime and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She had served 21 years at the time we first learned about her case."

Holley added that Kardashian West was intricately involved throughout the efforts to secure Johnson's freedom and would often discuss strategy with Holley several times a day.

The path to win clemency from Trump

Johnson's clemency is a striking move for Trump, who had until Wednesday granted just five pardons and one commutation in the first year and a half of his presidency.

All seven of Trump's clemencies so far have been granted to defendants whose cases have drummed up significant support from conservatives or celebrities.

While pardons essentially forgive people who have been convicted of crimes and restore some of their rights, a commutation reduces prisoners' sentences, usually freeing them immediately.

Last week, the president unexpectedly pardoned Dinesh D'Souza, the far-right political pundit and vehement Trump supporter who pleaded guilty in 2014 to campaign-finance violations. Trump also made waves by telling reporters he was considering pardoning Martha Stewart and commuting the sentence of Rod Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor.

In late May, Trump also granted a posthumous pardon to Jack Johnson, the American heavyweight boxing champion who was convicted of taking his white girlfriend across state lines in 1913; he died in 1946. His case was recommended to Trump by the actor Sylvester Stallone, who was in the Oval Office when Trump signed the pardon.

Jeffrey Crouch, an assistant professor at American University who studies presidential clemencies, said it was too early to discern a rhyme or reason to the pardons and commutations Trump has granted. But he added he was struck by how few "average Americans" Trump had pardoned before Alice Johnson, especially given the populist groundswell that lifted Trump to his election victory in 2016.

Last August, Trump pardoned Joe Arpaio, the bombastic former sheriff of Maricopa County, Arizona, who vocally supported Trump throughout his 2016 presidential campaign and who often parroted Trump's hardline stance on immigration.

In March, Trump pardoned Kristian Saucier, a former Navy sailor who took photos of classified areas inside a nuclear submarine. Saucier's case was widely cited among conservative media to compare it with that of Hillary Clinton, who used a private email server while she was secretary of state but wasn't prosecuted.

Trump also pardoned Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the former Bush administration official convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice, and commuted the sentence of Sholom Rubashkin, a former meatpacking-company executive convicted of bank fraud in an illegal labor scheme. Both cases received support from congressional Republicans, and some Democrats also supported Rubashkin's case.

Crouch said that while there were still too few cases to thoroughly analyze Trump's use of executive clemency, the public may already have deduced a pattern.

"The president can exercise clemency whenever he wants, as little or as much as he wants," Crouch told Business Insider. "He should be aware that using clemency in the manner that he has so far can leave the impression that it's basically his political allies that show up on his radar."

SEE ALSO: 'Kim has been my war angel': The unlikely story of how Kim Kardashian West and Jared Kushner are teaming up to free a 62-year-old grandmother from prison

DON'T MISS: Trump pardons former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why some countries are more corrupt than others

• Disney cast members tend to develop favorites when it comes to park rides.
• Business Insider reached out to 12 former cast members and asked them to pick out a favorite park attraction.
• Some went with old classics like the Haunted Mansion, while others praised brand-new offerings like Avatar Flight of Passage.

Disney cast members aren't impartial when it comes to park attractions.

Most of them have a favorite ride or area of either Disney park in the US: Walt Disney World or Disneyland.

Business Insider recently reached out to 12 former cast members who worked at Walt Disney World or Disneyland and asked them to share their favorite park attractions.

Some went with old classics like "It's a Small World After All" and "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror," while others highlighted popular coasters like "Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain."

Here's what the cast members had to say about their favorite park attractions:

SEE ALSO: Many Disney employees say they bring their own lunch to work — but there are 7 park treats they just can't resist

DON'T MISS: 15 insider facts about working at Walt Disney World only cast members know

SEE ALSO: Disneyland is home to a squad of feral cats who have free rein in the park — and you can adopt one if you work there

'It's a Small World After All' is a park icon featuring 'cute' dolls

A former Walt Disney World cast member who worked on rides like "Peter Pan's Flight," "Space Mountain," and "The Carousel of Progress" told Business Insider that their favorite ride was "It's a Small World After All."

"I love the dancing dolls," the ex-cast member said. "I love the way all those dolls dance."

The former Disney employee also got to work on "It's a Small World After All" at certain points, and got a glimpse behind-the-scenes at the attraction.

"We could see how it all worked," the former cast member said.

They added that the large elephant seen during the ride conceals an employees-only staircase, and that the ride also featured a closet filled with waders, just in case employees had to get in the water for whatever reason.

The 'Matterhorn Bobsleds' are a snow-capped 'historic' peak

A former Disneyland cast member who worked at the park for six years singled out the "Matterhorn Bobsleds" for praise.

When asked why, the cast member told Business Insider that they were impressed by the attraction's "history."

According to animated film scholar Michael Barrier's blog, Walt Disney himself was inspired to construct the Matterhorn while visiting Switzerland to shoot the 1959 live-action film "Third Man on the Mountain."

'The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror' is 'beautifully done'

A former cast member who worked at the Walt Disney Company for nearly eight years, including a stint at Hollywood Studios, told Business Insider that their favorite ride is "The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror."

"The theme is beautifully done, from the moment you get in line," the ex-cast member said.

Chantelle Judd, a former cast member who worked in Frontierland, agreed.

"I'm a big fan of thrill rides, so I would have to say 'Tower of Terror' would be my favorite," Judd told Business Insider. "I like the thrill of it all."

This fall, Tetris is coming to the PlayStation 4. But this isn't quite like any Tetris game you've ever played before. 

"Tetris Effect" looks like a new, trippy and breathtaking way to play one of the most popular video games of all time. It's inspired by a scientific phenomena of the same name — Tetris players reported seeing the game's iconic puzzle pieces, hours after playing. "Tetris Effect," the game, is designed to stimulate the same effect with gorgeous visuals.

The game won't be out until the fall, but expect to hear more about "Tetris Effect" at E3 over the next week. 

Take a look at our first glimpse of "Tetris Effect:"

SEE ALSO: Sonos just announced a $399 home theater soundbar, powered by Amazon’s Alexa — and it’s getting Apple’s Siri, too

First, let's talk about how this game got its name.

The Tetris Effect is the actual name for what happens to your brain after playing Tetris (or another game) for so long that your brain starts to see the game's images everywhere, even when you're not playing. 

In 2000, a Harvard study found that 60 percent of test subjects who had played at least seven hours of Tetris over the course of three days reported seeing falling blocks hours after they had stopped playing.

The Tetris Effect also manifests in a player dreaming about the game, or becoming more observant of the way that objects in real life — like bricks on the side of a building, or books on a shelf — fit together.

This new game plans to capitalize on the Tetris Effect, by playing up the game's hypnotic imagery and addictive nature.

The game will feature at least 30 mesmerizing stages, complete with stunning art, enchanting music, uniquely styled blocks, and even animated backgrounds that react to the player's actions—all designed to maximize the Tetris Effect.

The best part?

"Tetris Effect" will also support the PlayStation VR headset, so players can be fully immersed and surrounded by this acid trip of a game.

In a post to the official PlayStation blog today, the developer said every stage will have its own theme, and that "they’re all meant to make you feel something — to convey a mood, or even provoke an emotional response."

If the levels are anything like the game's trailer, it's safe to say we're in for an incredibly nostalgic (and a little emotional) ride. 

• A new survey from Deezer suggests we stop listening to new music at age 30.
• The results put this down to a busy life.
• But there could be other reasons, like the fact we don't soak up new music in the same way anymore.
• For example, between 12 and 22 our brains go through a lot of changes and we're more receptive to the songs we hear.
• Whatever the reason, our brains like nostalgic music, and there's no shame in indulging them.

It's a simple fact of life that older people reminisce about the glory days. You might believe you'll stay young and free-spirited forever, but one day you'll find yourself grumbling about not understanding the latest slang words and asking a young person what a meme is.

For some it might be happening earlier than they thought. That's according to a new survey from Deezer, which suggests people stop discovering new music at just 30 and a half.

The music streaming service surveyed 1,000 Brits about their music preferences and listening habits. 60% of people reported being in a musical rut, only listening to the same songs over and over, while just over a quarter (25%) said they wouldn't be likely to try new music from outside their preferred genres.

The peak age for discovering new music, the results suggested, was 24. This is when 75% of respondents said they listened to 10 or more new tracks a week, and 64% said they sought out five new artists per month. After this, though, it seems people's ability to keep up with music trends peters off.

Some of the reasons the survey revealed were people being overwhelmed by the amount of choice available (19%), having a demanding job (16%), and caring for young children (11%). Nearly half of respondents said they wished they had more time to dedicate to discovering new music, so at least for that 47% it wasn't due to a lack of interest.

"With so much brilliant music out there, it's easy to feel overwhelmed," said Adam Read, the UK & Ireland music editor at Deezer. "This often results in us getting stuck in 'musical paralysis' by the time we hit our thirties."

In 2015, the Skynet & Ebert blog looked at data from US Spotify users and Echo Nest. On average, teen music taste was dominated by popular music, then this steadily dropped until people's tastes "matured" in their early 30s. By age 33, it was more likely they'd never listen to new music again.

Rather than having less time, some research suggests we listen to the same songs over and over again because of musical nostalgia. For example, one major study, published in the journal Memory & Cognition, found that music had a very powerful effect on the mind to evoke memories, conjuring up old echos of the past at school or university.

Earlier this year, economist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz analysed Spotify data in the New York Times. Essentially, he found that if you were in your early teens when a song was first released, it will be the most popular among your age group a decade later. Radiohead's "Creep," for example, is the 164th most popular song among 38-year-old men, but it doesn't even reach the top 300 for those born 10 years earlier or later. It's because men who are 38 now were in that musical sweet spot when the song was released in 1993.

As for why this happens, research has shown how our favourite songs stimulate our pleasure responses in the brain, releasing dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and other happy chemicals. The more we like a song, the more of these chemicals flow through our body.

This happens for everyone, but during our adolescent years our brains are going through a lot of changes. We're also incredibly hormonal and sensitive, so if we hear a song we really love, it's more likely to stay with us forever.

That isn't to say you won't hear a new song you love in later life — it just might not elicit the same strong response because you aren't such a sponge anymore.

Another reason we listen to the same songs over and over could be because of something called the "anticipation phase." If you get goosebumps when you hear your favourite songs, it could be because of the hormonal responses, but it could also be because you know the good part is coming up.

For example, just before the song peaks, or there's a dramatic chord change, our brain perceives it as a reward and releases dopamine. However, over time we start to lose the same feeling of euphoria because we musically gorge ourselves.

If you haven't heard a song for several years, the euphoria may return, particularly if you first heard it when your brain was soaking everything up between the ages or 12 and 22.

So if you have a penchant for music from your youth, it's probably wired deep into your psyche. You can indulge in that throwback Thursday playlist full of Panic! At The Disco and Blink-182 without shame because it'll make your brain happy — it deserves it.

SEE ALSO: There's a biological reason why some people get chills down their spine when they listen to music and others don't

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Forget Mars, there could be life on Venus

• Buckingham Palace is hiring a pastry chef.
• The role offers a ton of perks including live-in accommodation and 33 days of annual leave.
• There's one bizarre detail, though. You need to have "good IT skills," the listing says.

Do you love the royal family? Do you also love baking?

If so, your dream job is ripe for the taking — as long as you can work your way around a computer.

Buckingham Palace is currently looking to hire a pastry chef, according to the official royal household website. There's just one small, strange detail, though — the role requires "good IT skills."

Applicants must be "a highly qualified and skilled Pastry Chef, with experience at a senior level from a fine dining or five-star catering operation," the description states.

"It's essential that you can plan, organise and delegate effectively, as you and your team will be delivering for varied occasions, across several sites.

"It's also important that you can follow all legislative requirements, and have good IT skills."

It's not entirely clear from the job listing why a pastry chef would need to be computer-savvy, but brushing up on your IT may be worth it for the chance of baking for Her Majesty.

Furthermore, while the salary is simply listed as "competitive," the role offers the option of live-in accommodation and all your meals provided. Employees also receive an enviable 15% employer contribution pension scheme and 33 days of annual holiday.

"It's developing your leadership skills. And it's delivering extraordinary service, in incredible surroundings. This is what makes a career at the Royal Household so different," the website reads.

As well as Her Majesty and her esteemed guests, chefs might find themselves cooking for the Queen's furry companions.

Former chef for the royal family Darren McGrady wrote that the Queen always took scones at afternoon tea but never ate them. "Instead, at the end of her daily tea, the Queen would take a scone and crumble it on the floor for the corgis," he wrote. "It seems the dogs quite liked them."

SEE ALSO: 13 foods that Queen Elizabeth eats every day

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: I ate nothing but 'healthy' fast food for a week — here’s what happened

Amazon's latest Alexa-enabled device has arrived — and it might just be the most useful one yet.

The Amazon Fire TV Cube is essentially a Fire TV and an Amazon Echo rolled into one.

It can power your home entertainment system on and off, switch inputs on your TV, play or pause the show you're watching, and, of course, handle basic Alexa questions like, "What's the weather going to be like tomorrow?" 

In fact, Amazon expects the Fire TV Cube to be so powerful and capable, you'll rarely have to touch your TV remote. 

The Fire TV Cube is priced at $120 and is available for preorder starting Thursday.

Here's everything it can do:

SEE ALSO: What it's like to use Wyze Cam, the $20 home security camera trying to take on Amazon and Nest

The Fire TV Cube is just that — a cube. It comes in a shiny black finish and has the same light-up strip along the outer edge as an Amazon Echo.

Amazon said it chose the cube shape because the device is intended to blend into the rest of your home entertainment system — most TVs have squared-off edges and a shiny black finish, so the Fire TV Cube does, too. 

But the design has a practical purpose, too. The device doesn't need to be round like other Amazon Echo devices because it's unlikely to be in a 360-degree setting — most people have their TVs up against a wall. 

In fact, the Fire TV Cube looks just like an Amazon Echo from the top.

The Fire TV Cube has multiple inputs in the back, including HDMI and USB.

• Topshop heiress Chloe Green and "hot felon" Jeremy Meeks announced the birth of their child, Jayden Meeks-Green, on Thursday. 
• Green is the daughter of billionaire Sir Phillip Green, a high-roller dubbed the "British Donald Trump" who is known for partying with celebrities like Kate Moss, Beyoncé, and Leonardo DiCaprio. 
• The heiress has been making headlines for years, appearing on a reality show, launching a fashion line, and socializing with celebrities — including her ex-boyfriend Marc Anthony. 

Topshop heiress Chloe Green and Jeremy Meeks — best known as "the hot felon" — announced the birth of their child on Thursday. 

According to an Instagram post by Green, Jayden Meeks-Green was born on May 29. Jayden is the first child of the 27-year-old heiress and Meeks, the 34-year-old model who became famous after his mug shot went viral, though Meeks has a child from a previous relationship. 

Green is no stranger to fame. As the daughter of billionaire Sir Philip Green — the chairman of Topshop owner Arcadia — the heiress has lived her life in the spotlight. 

Here's a look inside Green's glamorous life:

SEE ALSO: Jared Kushner's brother is breaking his political silence following Trump's election — here's everything we know about the millionaire entrepreneur who's dating model Karlie Kloss

Green is just 27 years old but has been making headlines for years.

Instagram Embed:
//instagram.com/p/Bf1QFIunq8s/embed
Width: 658px

Her parents, Phillip and Tina Green, are worth an estimated $4.9 billion.

The couple purchased the retail company Arcadia Group in 2002.

Source: Forbes

Sir Phillip Green is a controversial figure, dubbed by Vanity Fair the "British Donald Trump" for his "flamboyance and arrogance."

The businessman has been accused of dodging taxes and enriching himself by allowing the iconic retailer British Home Stores to fail. 

"In this era of austerity the British people seem to have had quite enough of the retailing tycoon, with his legal tax dodges, his complicated corporate structure, and his hyperinflated lifestyle, replete with a helicopter, a Gulfstream G550 jet, and three yachts — including one, Lionheart, which is 295 feet long and reportedly has a swimming pool, a helipad, and a beauty salon," Vanity Fair reported in 2016. 

• Comedian Samantha Bee called Ivanka Trump a "feckless c---" on her show "Full Frontal" last week, criticizing the first daughter's silence over her father's immigration policies.
• On Wednesday night's show, Bee apologized for her language, and said she regretted it.
• Bee recognized the history of the word being used against women at the hardest times in their lives, and said she didn't want to inflict more pain on them. 
• Bee also said, "Maybe we should all worry a little more about the niceness of our actions."

Last week, "Full Frontal" host Samantha Bee called Ivanka Trump a "feckless c---," and many people were furious about the comment. Some even compared her language to Roseanne Barr's racist tweet that caused ABC to cancel "Roseanne," and demanded that Bee's show be canceled, too. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders called the language "vile and vicious" and some sponsors for Bee's show, including State Farm, pulled their ads. 

On Wednesday night's episode of "Full Frontal," Bee apologized and said she regretted saying the word. 

"I crossed the line, I regret it, and I do apologize for that," Bee said. "The problem is that many women have heard that word at the worst moments of their lives ... and don't want it reclaimed. I don't want to inflict more pain on them. I want this show to be challenging and I want it to be honest, but I never intended it to hurt anyone ... except Ted Cruz." 

"Many men were also offended by my use of the word," Bee added. "I do not care about that."

Bee said she "hates" that her language distracted people from other important issues, and that she did something to contribute to the "nightmare" of 24-hour news cycles. "I should've known that a potty-mouthed insult would be inherently more interesting to them than juvenile immigration policy."  

"Civility is just nice words," Bee said. "Maybe we should all worry a little more about the niceness of our actions."

SEE ALSO: All the TV shows coming in summer 2018 — and whether you should watch them

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How a $9 billion startup deceived Silicon Valley

Quentin Tarantino announced earlier this year that Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio would be starring in his upcoming ninth film, "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood," which partly involves the Manson Family murders.

Last month, Tarantino and DiCaprio teased a few details about the film at the Las Vegas industry event CinemaCon, and Margot Robbie confirmed to IndieWire that she was playing the role of actor Sharon Tate in the film.

Since then, a strong supporting cast has steadily filled in. A source close to the production told IndieWire this week that Damian Lewis, Dakota Fanning, and Emile Hirsch will be joining the film. 

Pitt worked with Tarantino on 2009's "Inglorious Basterds," and DiCaprio appeared in 2013's "Django Unchained." Longtime Tarantino collaborators Tim Roth and Michael Madsen are also appearing in the film. 

"Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" is set for release August 9, 2019.

Here's everything we know about Tarantino's upcoming ninth film:

SEE ALSO: Quentin Tarantino's next film will be released by Sony following the Harvey Weinstein scandal

DON'T MISS: Charles Manson was sentenced to 9 life sentences for orchestrating 7 gruesome murders with his cult 'family' — here's his life story

The film takes place in "Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood."

Tarantino described "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" in a statement last month, calling it, "a story that takes place in Los Angeles in 1969, at the height of hippy Hollywood. The two lead characters are Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio), former star of a Western TV series, and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt). Both are struggling to make it in a Hollywood they don't recognize anymore. But Rick has a very famous next-door neighbor ... Sharon Tate."

In July 2017, early reports of the film described its script as focused on the murder of actress Sharon Tate by Charles Manson's followers.

While Tarantino's most recent statement mentions Sharon Tate as a player in the movie, Tarantino previously said that the film would not center on Manson but on the year 1969.

At CinemaCon on Monday, Tarantino did not add much to the description of the plot, calling the project "very hush-hush and top secret."

It has been five years in the making.

Tarantino said last month that he had been working on the script for the film for half a decade.

"I've been working on this script for five years, as well as living in Los Angeles County most of my life, including in 1969, when I was 7 years old," he said. "I'm very excited to tell this story of an LA and a Hollywood that don't exist anymore. And I couldn't be happier about the dynamic teaming of DiCaprio and Pitt as Rick and Cliff."

It's a "'Pulp Fiction'-esque movie."

Deadline reported in January that DiCaprio would play an "aging actor" in a "'Pulp Fiction'-esque movie." "Pulp Fiction," Tarantino's 1994 classic, told a collection of interconnected stories.

On Monday, Tarantino confirmed this sentiment by saying that "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" is "probably the closest to 'Pulp Fiction' that I have done."

If you're tired of superhero movies, there's plenty of summer TV to keep you busy — and on your couch. 

We put together a list of all the notable new and returning shows coming this summer, and let you know whether or not you should watch them.

The lineup for summer 2018 is promising, but not overwhelming. The only sad thing about it is that there's no "Game of Thrones," which dominated TV last summer. 

Some returning favorites are starting new seasons including TV Land's "Younger" and Netflix's "Glow." "Nashville" will air is final episodes on CMT, and Katherine Heigl will attempt to make people forget Meghan Markle isn't on USA's "Suits" anymore, because she's pretty busy with other things now. 

There are also a few new shows to look forward to this summer, including HBO's "Sharp Objects" starring Amy Adams, and Amazon's "Jack Ryan" series starring John Krasinski, who became an action star when we weren't paying attention. 

Here are all of the notable shows premiering in summer 2018, and whether or not you should watch them:

SEE ALSO: Netflix shared a list of 15 great movies with strong female leads you can stream right now

"Pose" (FX) — premiered June 3

Should you watch it? Yes! Ryan Murphy's dance/musical show depicts an incredibly diverse New York City in the 80s - from ball dance culture to the finance world.

"Succession" (HBO) — premiered June 3

Should you watch it? Only if you're not easily bored. This show is well cast, but it's a bit of a slog. 

"Dietland" (AMC) — premiered June 4

Should you watch it? This show is funny and clever but it's also a meaningful story about a woman struggling with her self image. 

• Ikea released details about its first product that will be made with Sonos since the two companies announced an upcoming collaboration in December 2017. 
• The Ikea/Sonos speaker will be designed to be functional as a piece of furniture, like a shelf, or it can be integrated into Ikea furniture so that it's less of a standalone device. 
• The speaker, called "Symphonies," will be available after the summer of 2019. 

Sonos and Ikea have revealed details on the first product to be made since they announced their collaboration back in December 2017.

On Thursday, Ikea announced its debut hardware will be a speaker called "Symfonisk" that combines the wireless audio expertise from Sonos and the furniture company's design know-how.

Ikea said the Symfonisk speaker will come with brackets so it can be installed on a wall and act like a shelf/speaker combination. The company also said it can integrated into existing Ikea furniture, like the Metod kitchen cabinet using the brackets. 

The idea is to have a speaker that integrates into a home's decor and functions like a built-in speaker system rather than existing as a standalone device. "Many people dream of built-in sound systems, but few can afford it. Our goal is for our collective work to save space, get rid of cords, make clutter invisible, and bring sound and music into the home in a more beautiful way," Ikea's Home Smart business leader Björn Block said in the company's press release.

The Symfonisk speaker is still under development at this stage, and is expected to be sold in Ikea stores after the summer of 2019. 

As for pricing, there are no details yet. The Sonos/Ikea collaborations was described as a "democratization" of music and sound in the home, so with that in mind, the Sonos/Ikea speaker may not cost as much as a typical speaker from Sonos, like the $200 Sonos One. 

SEE ALSO: Sonos just announced a $399 home theater soundbar, powered by Amazon’s Alexa — and it’s getting Apple’s Siri, too

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Here's the meaning behind all of those obscure IKEA product names

• With over 200 million active users, Valve's Steam service is the world's largest digital game platform.
• Valve is making a major change to how it decides which games are allowed on its platform: Going forward, all games are allowed on Steam.
• "We've decided that the right approach is to allow everything onto the Steam Store, except for things that we decide are illegal, or straight up trolling," Valve executive Erik Johnson wrote on Wednesday.
• Valve is building tools to allow users to self-select what they see on the Steam Store.

It all started in late May, when images of a game named "Active-Shooter" went viral. 

The images, like the one above from the game, depict a player taking on the role of the shooter in a school shooting. The game tracks how many cops you've killed, as well as "civs" — as in, unarmed civilians. 

As intended, the game sparked controversy. Parents of victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, spoke out against it. Florida Senator Bill Nelson called the game "inexcusable." A petition with hundreds of thousands of signatures was put together to have the game removed from Valve's Steam Store. 

Valve responded by removing the game from Steam, and banning its publisher from the service — a huge blow to any publisher, as Steam is the largest digital storefront in the world. In a statement to Business Insider, a Valve representative characterized the publisher, Acid, as, "a troll, with a history of customer abuse, publishing copyrighted material, and user review manipulation."

In so many words, the game's publisher was causing trouble before any of the recent controversy kicked off. But the "Active-Shooter" situation brought a new problem to the forefront: How should Valve police which games are allowed on its platform?

This week, on Wednesday, Valve executive Erik Johnson published an answer to that question: "We've decided that the right approach is to allow everything onto the Steam Store, except for things that we decide are illegal, or straight up trolling."

In the case of "Active-Shooter," it seems that Valve would've banned the game regardless for "straight up trolling" — after all, Valve characterized Acid as exactly that in its statement last week.

The new policy comes with its own tradeoffs, as Johnson said in his note:

"So what does this mean? It means that the Steam Store is going to contain something that you hate, and don't think should exist. Unless you don't have any opinions, that's guaranteed to happen. But you're also going to see something on the Store that you believe should be there, and some other people will hate it and want it not to exist."

As a means of making the experience more comfortable, Valve is building tools to "enable you to override our recommendation algorithms and hide games containing the topics you're not interested in."

Never want to see games from a certain publisher, or of a certain type, or games with "adult" themes? These new tools intend to allow that.

Game developers and publishers will now have to include more detail about potentially controversial elements of their games, Johnson said, as part of the new submission process for games on Steam. 

For the time being, however, nothing is changing — Valve is still building the tools for Steam that will make this new policy function.

SEE ALSO: A 'school shooter' video game has been removed from the biggest PC gaming platform, along with the person who made it

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How to avoid having your computer hacked