Ubisoft, a major publisher that has largely stayed out of the musical genre, is finally getting into the game. Rocksmith will use real guitars, and not a cheap plastic toy packaged with the game. Players will be able to use any working electric guitar. In other words, you might finally have a reason to learn how to play.
As news hound Superannuation suggests, it does seem likely that Rocksmith is based off Guitar Rising, a PC game for which Ubisoft holds the copyright. As you may recall, Guitar Rising was first shown back in 2007. Journalists were at once impressed by the scope of the game, which could teach players to 'actually' play guitar, while also fearful that such a game was too hardcore and closer to an educational tool than a game.
On one hand, Ubisoft could be hopping on the train at just the right moment; Activision recently announced the end of the Guitar Hero franchise and EA revealed poor sales for Rock Band 3. Perhaps playing real songs on a quality guitar is the next evolution of the genre. On the other hand, perhaps gamers are simply tired of the genre.