Four times as big and a little closer to Heaven, the revitalised TK Park at Bangkok's Central World Plaza is cherishing the past even as it hurtles into the future.

A series of computer games are being introduced that will teach youngsters about their own country's history while they're rollicking about in a Lord-of-the-Rings-style fantasy world.

By popular demand, Thailand Knowledge Park, as it's properly known, has moved up to the mall's eighth floor so that it could quadruple in size - from about 1,000 square metres to 4,200.

Its directors have a Bt140-million budget to create a "dream library" for young readers, and plans call for a cyber world to make learning fun. The Kingdom's art and history are being sifted and digitised from the National Library of Thailand.

"Ninety per cent of the children who come to TK Park are in love with computer games," says Dr Sirikorn Maneerin, head of the facility's board. "So we're creating some of our own and inserting knowledge about Thai culture and places - and without the violence factor that's found in most games today."

With the help of top Thai design studio Imagimax, university students are giving TK Park four games with characters from Siamese legend and actual historic places like Ayutthaya and Sukhothai.

"The Ramayana game is like a Thai version of 'Lord of the Rings'," says Sirikorn.

"Goog-Goog-Groo, Khon Su Pee" has characters taking on friendly ghosts amid colourfully vivid graphics. It takes about 30 minutes to complete all three levels.

A preview last week drew chuckles as animated heroes in traditional Siamese dress and with their hair in a bun wielded short knives to fend off floating ghosts. The production values weren't far off those of the current hit animation "Kan Kluay".

National Artist Arvuth Ngoenchuklin has guided the animators in the architectural and artistic details of the games, right down to ensuring a true-to-life distinction among different temple structures.

TK Park has digitised four antique books kept at the National Library, one featuring a Royal Barge Procession during the reign of King Narai. Another travels the world along with King Rama V, the pages of history - often difficult to decipher - given fresh life on the computer screen.

A selection of traditional music is also being stored in digital form, and the sounds of no fewer than 150 different instruments.

The music library is also the place to find a romantic mood.

"In the evening you can sit here in the dim light and gaze at a temple through the window," Sirikorn says.

The cyberspace library will continue to grow as the board negotiates with publishers to transpose popular books into e-books.

And by the end of the year, TK Park will be expanding into Yala, Maha Sarakham and Chiang Mai, with the digital content varying with the local culture and traditions.

"Representatives of the administrative bodies from various provinces who've visited TK Park have said they'd like to have this type of library as well," says Sirikorn. "I think we've succeeded in igniting a desire for living libraries across the country."

TK Park memberships cost only Bt50 a year for people up to age 25 and seniors, and Bt100 for everyone else.

Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

The Nation