So. I've recently gotten interested in the notion of creating a NES game from scratch. I have a little understanding of software programming basics. While I admit I'm not particularly adept at game programming, I'm willing to learn what I need to.

Anyway, sometimes amateur developers turn out original games designed to be run on NES consoles, or as a ROM to be run via Nintendo Emulation. Stuff like Castlevania Blood Moon and Battle Kid: Fortress of Peril. Are there prexisting developer tools to design games with the NES hardware? Or does it take esoteric knowledge of the hardware to program for it?