First of all, I would like to thank you all for your comments and support in keeping this blog alive. I really really appreciate that.

The decision to shut down this blog is final and was made partially because I started to get busy with toy business startup (Fujiya Character & Hobby Shop), but it is mainly for good reason. Just keep reading and you will find out the reason.

When and Why this blog was started?

This blog was started back in June 2009. That was about 8 months after I started the “Saint Cloth Myth (Bandai)” page. In other words, less than 1 year after I bought my first Myth Cloth figure (Pegasus God Cloth) in July 2008.

At that time, I was not only actively looking for latest news from multiple sources, but I also posted all this news on forums. It was only 1 forum to begin with, then started to get active in few other forums as well. In addition to that, I also helped answer questions from forum members. Worst thing is that you get same questions from different people at different time. Imagine the frustration and tiredness of doing that in the long run.

Based on this experience, I found that forum may be great place to meet, share, and socialize with people who have same interest. But when it comes to sharing information, it totally fails me. You can post some news today. Try to find that news again 6 months or 12 months later. Good luck, buddy~!

That’s why this blog was born.

After running this blog for almost 2 years, what did I achieve and learn?

1. Blog Traffic & Ads

From the analytics statistic, the traffic have been showing gradual increase in few indicators, such as visit, visitors, page views and referrer. The average number of visit per day has increased from 200+ (last year) to 500+ (the last 1 month).

I have no specific goals in these numbers, as I don’t particularly aim for making money from the ads. Believe or not, this blog has just made around US$36+ revenue after almost 2 years. O well, it is good enough to cover my cost for the domain name, but still not enough to pay for the hosting plan though.

2. Originality? or just Simply Copy and Paste?

I know there are people who said that there was no originality in this blog, mostly copy and paste from CyberGundam and other source. At least, there was 1 guy who pointed out this on facebook page.

Let me clarify! The purpose of this blog is not to provide first hand news or even reviews. I set up this blog to compile all related news, review links, and any related stuffs from multiple sources into 1 place. It is more for your convenience, not a place for me to show off what I got.

3. More Pictures, Less Talk

I’m not sure whether the blog has served its purpose. But there was indeed change of direction if you compare to the early days. I used to write more in the past, but has slowly cut it down. Now you’ll see more pictures & fact/info, less personal opinion in my posts.

When community gets bigger, we’ll see all sort of funny people. If I were to make a personal comment over a thing, sure you’ll see some fire burning in the comment section. People will try to prove me wrong. Just to embarrass me in the public, probably due to jealousy over popularity. For the record, I never think myself as a public figure or celebrity.

If this blog is doing well, why do you need to shut it down?

As mentioned before, the blog will eventually shut down. It may not happen until the new home, bigger home, better home is ready. Secret plan is about to unveil.

New home – This blog will move to new domain, as the current domain will probably not fit the vision of the secret plan.

Bigger home – New blog will cover not only Myth Cloth, but any toys related news. Why? How?

Better home – New blog will have more features, because I don’t want you guys to come in and go just for news. I want you to stay and interact with me and all other readers. How?

O well, I think I wrote long enough and I will stop here. If you’re curious about my new secret plan, let me know. I’ll write more detail in my next post.

Please leave comments and feedbacks. Things you like, you don’t like, you want me to improve. Just anything~!

Cheers.

PS: Happy belated April Fool’s day, guys~!

After having so much thinking, I have come to a decision to shut down this blog. It was a very hard decision, but I have chosen to give up this blog in order to focus on my new venture – Fujiya Character & Hobby Shop.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who have been actively checking out this blog for Myth Cloth news and reviews. You guys have been great support to keep this blog alive this far.

As of May 24th, this blog will no longer be around. The domain will expire on that day and all the content will be gone. Anyone who wish to take over the domain and content can contact me to discuss the deal.

Again, thank you!!

EDIT: This is NO APRIL FOOL’s JOKE!!!

HobbyLink Japan and Hobby Search are two of the major online stores that got hit by tsunami. Their offices and warehouses were affected. Hope everyone is okay there.

All thoughts and prayers go to everyone affected by this Tsunami. Let’s pray for the safety of everyone there.

Update: Here are images from Futaba Imageboard showing damages to some collections of our fellow friends in Japan. More pictures are available here.

To anyone in Bandai. I’m not sure whether you visit this blog that often. But I know I got some traffic from Tokyo, Japan. I hope you can hear the voice of our hardcore Saint Seiya fans here.

“Oh, Bandai… Do you still remember this old toy that you made long ago?”

Review by JoshB via Collection DX

We understand that there is this saying “perfect is an enemy of good”. But you have done such a good job so far. We just need your magic touch to make it perfect.

For Saint Seiya fans out there who read this post, please leave comment below to support this campaign! Let our voice reach out to Bandai!

Prototype picture

Color Based on Original Design

Over the last 1 year (2010), Bandai had released 13 new products, 10 reissues, and 14 exclusive products. Although I don’t have full statistics of year 2009, I believe some of these numbers probably top the history of Myth Cloth over the last 7 years.

Of all those numbers, you probably spent at least 50,000 – 65,000 Yen over the last 1 year if you’re getting one of each regular releases (13 items). Additional of 75,000 yen – 115,000 Yen for those who are getting one of each exclusive releases (14 items). That accumulates to total of 125,000 – 180,000 Yen spending per individual over the last 1 year.

Below is the full list of the 2010 line-up:

New Products
1. Cancer Deathmask Surplice @ 5,000 Yen (January 16)
2. Alcor Bud @ 4,500 Yen (January 23)
3. Perseus Argol @ 5,000 Yen (February 27)
4. Dragon Shiryu God Cloth @ 6,500 Yen (March 27)
5. Lizard Misty @ 6,000 Yen (May 27)
6. Pegasus Seiya Early Bronze @ 5,000 Yen (June 19)
7. Cygnus Hyoga God Cloth @ 6,500 Yen (July 24)
8. Appendix DX Stand Set @ 1,500 Yen (July 24)
9. Andromeda Shun Early Bronze @ 5,000 Yen (August 28)
10. Pisces Aphrodite Surplice @ 5,000 Yen (September 25)
11. Cygnus Hyoga Early Bronze @ 5,000 Yen (October 30)
12. Dragon Shiryu Early Bronze @ 5,000 Yen (November 20)
13. Phoenix Ikki God Cloth @ 6,500 Yen (December 18)

Exclusive Products
1. [Tamashii Webshouten] Appendix Gold Cloth Box vol.2 @ 4,200 Yen (January 25)
2. [Tamashii Webshouten] Polaris Hilda @ 5,040 Yen (February 19)
3. [Tamashii Webshouten] Andromeda Shun God Cloth OCE @ 7,875 Yen (March 19)
4. [Toei Animation Shop] Pegasus Seiya POG @ 4,725 Yen (March)
5. [Tamashii Webshouten] Appendix Gold Cloth Box vol.3 @ 4,725 Yen (May 21)
6. [Tamashii Festival 2010] Phoenix Ikki Final Cloth OCE @ 4,500 Yen (August 1)
7. [Toei Animation Shop] Dragon Shiryu POG @ 4,725 Yen (August)
8. [Tamashii Webshouten] Dragon Shiryu God Cloth OCE @ 7,875 Yen (September 18)
9. [Tamashii Nation 2010] Cygnus Hyoga Final Cloth OCE @ 4,500 Yen (October 1)
10. [Tamashii Nation 2010] Appendix Aries Muu OCE @ 2,500 Yen (October 1)
11. [Tamashii Nation 2010] Appendix Aquarius Camus OCE @ 2,500 Yen (October 1)
12. [Tamashii Webshouten] Appendix Gold Cloth Box vol.4 @ 4,200 Yen (October 21)
13. [Toei Animation Shop] Cygnus Hyoga POG @ 4,725 Yen (November)
14. [Tamashii Webshouten] Appendix Gold Objects set @ 6,300 Yen (December 24)

Reissues
1. Leo Aioria @ 4,000 Yen (January 30)
2. Dubhe Siegfried (Alpha) @ 4,500 Yen (January 30)
3. Lyra Orphee @ 3,800 Yen (February 27)
4. Libra Dohko @ 4,800 Yen (March 20)
5. Taurus Aldebaran @ 5,000 Yen (July 29)
6. Sagittarius Aiolos @ 4,000 Yen (July 29)
7. Aries Muu @ 4,000 Yen (August 28)
8. Gemini Saga / Pope Arles @ 6,000 Yen (September)
9. Capricorn Shura @ 4,000 Yen (October 23)
10. Cancer Deathmask @ 4,000 Yen (December 11)

With the list above, Year 2010 marks few milestones in Myth Cloth history:
1. Completion of Bronze God Cloth normal set
2. Completion of Appendix Gold Cloth Box + Mini Objects
3. Completion of Asgard character line
4. Completion of Gold Saint Surplice/ Renegades
5. Introduction of Early Bronze characters
6. Introduction of Power of Gold Bronze characters

BEST AND WORST MYTH CLOTH OF 2010?

I think it’s hard to come up with a good answer that everyone can agree with. In fact, year 2010 is full of disappointment with ugly face sculpts and inaccurate armor design. Feel free to nominate one or two. Comment box below is open for your opinion.

Happy New Year! Wish you all a prosperous year ahead! Hope to see more promising Myth Cloth products in 2011.

Cheers

Here are the comparison of the first prototype introduced at Tamashii Nation 2009 Autumn (October 2009) and the one at recent Tamashii Nation 2010 Shinka (October 2010).

At Tamashii Nation 2009 Autumn

At Tamashii Nation 2010 SHINKA

And here’s what we are going to get in April 2011:

The more I look at the promotional picture of Black Pegasus, the more I realized that he doesn’t even have that look of any Saint Seiya character.

In addition to face sculpt, how about the arms? Aren’t they supposed to be covered in blue clothing? No one at Toei Animation Studio say anything about it?

@BANDAI: Remember these Action Saint Series that you made in the old days? If you don’t, let me refresh back your memory by going to your own website here: http://www.tamashii.jp/item/itemlist.php?pref=210

See the arms are covered in blue? These two figures costs only 3,150 yen and they look way better than those Myth Cloth you’re going to release next year. Any reason we should pay 10,500 yen for something that’s not even close to show-accurate?

People are paying money for these figures, especially when they don’t come very cheap. So, just a humble advice from the Saint Seiya community:

“FIX IT!!!”

Last note to Bandai: We complain because we care.

- Dvillangelo

Stay tuned

Update: Apology for missing the post. I have to take indefinite break for the moment, due to work loads. News, rumor and quick update will continue as per normal.