No, they are not. You need an EA account to activate Alice but don't have to install Origin - and it's a damn fine, underrated game IMO.
Bulletstorm doesn't require Origin either. Something worse - it's a GFWL game. I gave up after 30 minutes of installing. I don't need that shit.

Mount & Blade With Fire & Sword $4.49 US.
http://impulsedriven.com/mbfiresword

See I can never work this out everyone I talk to irl says they install the game log in with their MSN account enter the serial and never think about GFWL again unless theres a DLC they want...
But if you listen to the net people have install issues (how I have no idea I've installed it on XP-7 no issues) or multiple logins on GFWL (did you forget to tick the box labeled 'auto login' or something?), lost saves (usually followed by 'when my friend used his login my saves weren't there for him to use' or some other idiocy), needing to be always online (hello theres an offline account option...)

Well, you are missing out on an awesome game. And iirc GfWL is optional anyway. Just go offline.

I never had any problems with GfWL and I like their achievement system. And since they recently "outsourced" the patching process my last gripe with it is gone.

It's entirely possible your experience with GFWL is smooth. Mine was very painful.

After forcing me to create/remember login details for an online account (no, it didn't work only with an offline account),
GFWL said it needed to update,
downloaded something for a long time
and crashed
with an absolutely unclear numeric code
that I found online may (or may not) mean I don't have enough space on disk
(which could be true for the system disk if 1GB is not enough for GFWL, that's why all system TEMP directories are on another, larger disk)

Anyway, not to derail this thread further - Bulletstorm contains GFWL. Act accordingly.
Alice needs only an EA account and is a fine game.
Neither requires Origin.

You want to know about GFWL? I'll tell you: the worst piece of shit out there! Yes, even Ubisoft DRM is better!

Now, from my post here on gog some other places (those who know me) you know that I'm not against any kind of DRM/registration/clients/etc. I just go along with what a developer/publisher wants. So I was not against GFWL at all. Until recently...

I played Batman: Arkham City and I loved it. I finished the game on normal difficulty and had all the secrets, challenges etc on 100%. Saved all discovered stories, artworks etc to the very end so I could enjoy them all.

However one day mu saves were not there. My profile in game was gone, no progress at all. I was planning to start the game on New Game Plus mode but it was locked again of course. I've checked and the savegame files were in the right directory just GFWL decided to erase my all achievements and progress. And of course finding anything there is a miracle, every second link leads you to the 'buy poins or credits or whatever' page.

Anyway, after a rage I decided I don't want to play that game anymore. Some challenges were really hard and frustrating and going through them all again and not being sure my progress is properly saved is not for me.

So yeah, GWFL has killed my joy of the Batman: Arkham City.

pm'ed you

How's that game compared to Warband? I've read mixed things about the addition of guns, so I'm not sure if they will be a nice addition or if they will ruin the experience.

Do you have it on steam by any chance? A bugged patch was released on there by accident that did the above it was removed quickly and replaced in a few days bringing the saves back for those that lost them...

Yes, on Steam, but I played it recently, after that situation. And no, my saves are still gone.

Amazon is kicking Steam's ass since December, I wonder if it is hurting. $2 or $3 for such AAA games after the coupon.

I also wonder when the next themed Steam sale will be? It sucks that the coupons will expire in March 1st.

Gothic? Sacred? Arkania? :)

Cool.

They only really matched Steam's Xmas sales I think so I doubt they lost much there since Steam users will stay with Steam on that.

January will probably be less active due to the good Amazon sale but most sales happened December anyway no doubt.

sorry I haven't played it enough yet to comment

I spent at least half the "christmas sale money" on Amazon, mostly the "big titles". Steam was the next big share, but mostly small games and bundles. The rest was GG,etc. (GOG was on hold due to CDPs legal shennanigans).

All the games I bought on Amazon were games I would have purchased otherwise on Steam. And I don't think I was the only one in that regard.

Duke Nukem Forever and DLC 75% Midweek Madness on steam

Duke Forever: $4.99
Duke Parody: $2.49
Duke Doctor Cloned me: $2.50