• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, June 2, 2011

Roku founder Anthony Wood isn't exactly moving into the gaming arena with modest intentions. Speaking to USA Today, Wood said that giants Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft are losing juice, while opportunities on iPhones and Android devices have "shaken up the industry."

Roku intends to keep the blender spinning with a deal to bring the iconic Angry Birds to the TV screen. Not only is Wood looking to muscle in on the entrenched players, but he's doing it with an exceedingly hot property on iPhones and iPads.

The announcement of the Roku deal with Angry Birds developer Rovio created a frisson, but dare it be said, was still underplayed (pun intended). Roku stands at the vortex of the cord-cutting movement, offering a box that can link the Internet with the TV and stream content such as Netflix, Hulu Plus and NBA games.

Add all that to the chance to spend hours competing for Angry Birds high scores and Roku becomes even more compelling as a contributor to nixing the TV bill. Ever the visionary, Wood, who takes credit for inventing the DVR, is using Angry Birds as a high-profile offering to establish a robust casual gaming menu on Roku.

Interesting that with the DVR and now Roku, a cord-cutter's delight, Wood has been an instrumental player in two of the most disruptive challenges to the traditional TV model. 

When announcing the Angry Birds deal, which includes a channel built around the game with animated shorts and the chance to buy merchandise, Roku said talks are ongoing with other game providers and announcements aren't just coming - but coming in the next few weeks.

(Current Roku users apparently will have to buy an upgraded device to play the games, which will cost a fee.)

Saying there's a "huge market" for games on TV, Wood said in a statement "we intend to be the catalyst for transforming the way people play casual games ... on the biggest screen in the home."

In other words a game-changer.