There's a number of similarities between the platforms, but:PypeBros wrote:I'd be tempted to suggest the use of NDS / GBA as a platform to quickly prototype NES stuff. You would have tiled graphics, multi-track sound (including with pulse generators in the case of the GBA) and NES-like input. You would have access to high-level language and about 10x more CPU power.
Of course, this is said by someone who's been doing NDS development and no NES development so far, so better cross-check that with people who have first-hand experience.
- If you just want a platform to test game ideas, something PC-based would be easier and allow more rapid development than GBA/DS.
- If you care about NES restrictions (palette issues, attributes, etc), then the GBA won't help you test that. Using Lua on an emulator would be a pretty good way to force yourself to use NES limitations but with a higher-level language.
(I do think the GBA is a great system to get started with for learning console development, as it has many of the same general ideas as NES, but is much easier. But I'm just not convinced it would be advantageous for prototyping NES games.)