The MOS 6567/6569 video controller (VIC-II)
and its application in the Commodore 64
Contents
3. Description of the VIC
3.7. Text/bitmap display
3.7.3. Graphics modes
3.7.3.5. ECM text mode (ECM/BMM/MCM=1/0/0)
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This text mode is the same as the standard text mode, but it allows the selection of one of four background colors for every single character. The selection is done with the upper two bits of the character pointer. This, however, reduces the character set from 256 to 64 characters.

c-access

Adresses
13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
VM13 VM12 VM11 VM10 VC9 VC8 VC7 VC6 VC5 VC4 VC3 VC2 VC1 VC0

Data
11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
Color of
"1" pixels
Back.col.
selection
D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0

g-access

Adresses
13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
CB13 CB12 CB11 0 0 D5 D4 D3 D2 D1 D0 RC2 RC1 RC0

Data
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
8 pixels (1 bit/pixel)

"0": Depending on bits 6/7 of c-data
00: Background color 0 ($d021)
01: Background color 1 ($d022)
10: Background color 2 ($d023)
11: Background color 3 ($d024)
"1": Color from bits 8-11 of c-data