There are also activesoft quirks, like spinning your gun on a finger each time before you drop it into the holster (I believe they were mentioned in Unwired). How can these crop up, if hundreds of skilled professionals are recorded?

How could there be bugs in [name any OS] if there are so many professionals working on them?

That's a feature.

Nah, my point is - such a quirk is obviously an imprint of a single gunfighter who always spun the gun before holstering it. If the activesoft was a recording of a hundred professionals, surely one's peculiarities wouldn't get recorded.

It is implemented because we all have a little cowboy in ourselves....^^

If one person take the trouble to blow the smoke off the barrel, twirl the gun around a finger and holster it after each sample "final shot", and no one else does something similar, his action is apparently important enough for the skillsoft recording to include it, while no one provides a counter balance.

*shrug*

Anyway, when one instance of fluff adds to another instanceof fluff without being specifically mutually exclusive, they should IMHO be considered additive. If canon says it's so, it's so. Logical arguments aside (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Tymeaus, no one said they're not programs. It's only an mistake of English that leads you to conclude that means they're 'programmed'. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

How does Coded work for you then. The fact of the matter is that they have program options, which are programmed into the CODE of the Active Soft. They had to have been "Coded" by someone. They are, after all, acting just like an Operating System for the Body that replicates a Specific Skill. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

As you know, that's still not the same as how an Analyze program is coded. Simsense programs are categorically distinct in origin, even though they do indeed use Options, etc. Again, no one is saying they're not programs. They are not, however, created through the application of a SR4 'programming' action. Not for PCs and not for NPCs. You'll note this, from Unwired, which addresses both aspects of the question:

No arguments on those accounts. I do get that they are categorically "different" in a lot of ways. But the existence of that "Mother Program" measn that, at least in theory, you could have a character who is capable of editing the wet records in the fashion that they desire. Admittedly, that is WAY outside the normal parameters of Shadowrun, but it could happen, if the players wanted to go in that direction. There is enough of a framework out there to make it viable.

I could see a hacker "tweaking" opposing sammy's activesofts... Or, actually, adding something cool to the ones his own sam is carrying.

If by "tweaking" you mean deleting the ones he has, and replacing them with others, while hoping the switch goes unnoticed, then yes.
Otherwise, Unwired is pretty clear on editing them being a no no. Besides, editing software would be a use of Software skill, and actual coding, which goes far beyond the time limit of what would be useful in an encounter with any sammy.

I don't see where you'd get that conclusion, Tymeaus. Here's what we know: simsense programs are 'recorded', use a special 'format', and use 'specialized post production techniques', and that it's a completely distinct method from standard software, which is utterly unavailable to any character under any circumstances. Anything else is fluff and house rules.

It would be nice for hacker too have a messed up Pistol-Skillsoft ready that makes the user shoot into his own head instead of shooting at the enemy. Just for the case that he hacks into the skill-wire-system of an enemy street-sam. Simply switch the running programs and watch the fun. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/grinbig.gif)

As for the original question:
RAW says yes
Common sense say no ("skillwire overrides the muscle control. You're either using your natural skill with it's specialisation, or the programmed skill")
Ballancing say no (Skillwire is very strong already. If it gets even better, it's broken)

I think: Common sense + Ballancing > RAW
=> I say no.

RAW lawyers will say: Common sense + Ballancing < RAW
=> They say yes.

Now you have to decide for yourself where you stand.

Yes, I know that per RAW, you can't edit them. I'm just musing on the interesting ways to do that if you houserule that it's possible.

Frankly, I don't feel that skillwires are that good. The costs are rather prohibitive since the AE, and the Essence cost ruins the deal altogether. Rating x 10000 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/nuyen.gif) , seriously? If you could funnel more than 50BP into gear, it could be feasible; as it is, the whole system is absolutely pointless.

That's what Move-by-Wire 2 and Restricted Gear do for you. You get Wired Reflexes and Skillwire cheaper and for less Essence

The soft itself is still ridiculously expensive, expensive enough for the activesofts not to be useful for the only thing I think they can really be used for: covering the gaps in your skill build-up.

It's Nuyen versus Karma. If you have more Nuyen, skillwires are better. No one said you have to do it all at Chargen.

Somehow I always happen to have a lot of holes to try and cram with my nuyen. Karma, too.
The problem is other options are just more effective.
Hell, a Reflex Recorder gives me plus one skill level for 10k - that's immensely better than one skill level for 10k for activesofts.

The highest grade are very expensive, but a mid-level one can still be extremely handy for all those skills you're suing once in a blue moon but will sorely regret the absence when you need them. Things like sucba diving, driving some sort of exotic vehicle or the like. Or even more usual skills (things like demolition, armorer and the other build repair skills) when the party's specialist isn't available.

An average wired skill is better than defaulting in those cases.

Reflex Recorders also cost Essence, and activesofts can have various enhancements. Multiple competing solutions are allowed to exist in the game, and their 'optimal' status depends on specific circumstances.

Except for Muscle Replacement, because it just sucks.

Blah blah depends blah blah. AE nerfed skillsofts for no real reason. They were a good option, now they aren't.

See, I adore Muscle Replacement. It's an incredible chargen option, but there are obviously better things to swap in later in the game.

Don't forget that pirated software costs only 10%. Suddenly the price is much more affordable. And even this 10% are still hard to explain as a GM. Who pays 4000 Nuyen for something thats transferred with copy/paste from person to person. And even if he did, why doesn't he sell it to the next 10 guys he know for 2000 Nuyen. The price would drop fast if this stuff was real.
But even if you have to pay the 10% of the price. Share it with a teammember or an appropriate connection that has a skillwire too, and the price is divided by the number of skillwire-dudes you know +1.
Rating 4 Skillwire in Alpha-ware is only 16,000 nuyen. You get a lot for those 0.64 essence. Even my mage has that stuff!
Ok you can't get pirated software at character creation, but as soon as the game starts, and you get money, you can buy that stuff. Your fixer will have all normal skillsofts. Its free 4000 nuyen for only copy/paste for him. He would be an idiot if he let that business slip away.

The only advantage normal real skills have is the specialisation, that almost equals 2 more ratings for some skills.
The option for rating 5 skillsofts is a problem too, but at least this stuff is personalized, so you can't use pirated software.