Something New

Hi, I’m Ayla Derrick - a game developer, studio founder, and most recently, an immigrant.

You might know me from LinkedIn, where I’ve shared my journey of running a viral indie game studio as a junior in an industry without enough jobs for all of us. That space is where I’ve stayed positive, helpful, and industry-focused.

This Substack is something else.

Here, I’m documenting the story about why I left the U.S., how I chose New Zealand, and what it’s like to uproot your life for something better, or at least I hope so. This Substack will be far more personal when it comes to my beliefs, way of life, and also every day happenings!

How often do I expect to post content?

I want to start slow - I am moving to New Zealand after all! I am hoping to be able to manage at least one post a week. I hope to provide both audio and written content, so everyone has a choice to interact in a way that works best for them.

What kind of content will I post?

All content should revolve around New Zealand in some way, from how I managed moving here, to what I do in NZ, and comparison between NZ and America. Most content will be specifically about immigration as well as NZ game related content. But there might be some stuff about my daily life.

Thanks for being here with me! I am excited to showcase my beautiful new home country and hopefully open up the world a little more to those who follow along.