Thanks everyone! Yes, I’m using NesDev as a primary resource and I’ll look there for technical assistance. I’m currently thinking of VGS as a social component; a place I can let interested people know of my projects, and celebrate the achievements of others.
I didn’t mention it originally, but the first project I’m working on to get familiar with home brew is a demake/ port of geometry dash. I chose it because it is sufficiently complicated to be challenging (scrolling platformer) but I think it’s plenty doable wrt programming and graphics. Sound is TBD, since I’m not musically skilled. As I mentioned, it’s going okay so far but it’s just starting. It looks like it’s going to be very fun and well within reach. It’s also a bonding opportunity for me and my son. I don’t play geometry dash at all, nor any mobile games, but it’s massively captured my 8 year olds fascination, and he regards it the way I regarded Mario and Zelda when I was that age. He loves to give me insight into the mechanics of the game and help me prioritize features.