System and method for automatically editing captured images for inclusion into 3D video game play

A video game system for playing interactive animated video games using hand-operated handheld controls that produces video game animation control signals in response to manipulation by a user, the video game system including a main game unit that generates game images, including at least one animated three-dimensional player object, for animated display during animated game play, the main game unit including a processor and also having a memory that stores at least a portion of a game program, wherein:

• the processor receives said game control signals from the handheld controls, said main game unit generating a display of the animated three-dimensional player in response to accessing a memory storing the game program, the game program including an image editor, wherein the editor maps an imported two-dimensional image onto the animated three-dimensional player object, wherein the game program animates said three-dimensional player to move under control of said game control signals the processor receives from the handheld controls,
• wherein said processor performs an automatic shade compensation non-linear filter operation that substantially eliminates undesirable shade discontinuities within or alone the edge of the mapped two-dimensional image, said non-linear filter operation modifying the intensity of each pixel in the two-dimensional image as a function of pixel position.