Anyone have any suggestions to get the word out on your low budget game?

I tried advertising on related game sites, and didnt gain squat compared to the cost of the advert.

Thanks,
Blitz

Don't ever do paid ads, they won't work for small developers, especially not for very small teams with no budget (cost versus effect-issue) ...

Spread your game by making a (time-limited?) demo and upload it to the gazillion download portals out there. Release press info, write emails about your game to online magazines (be prepared for the fact that some magazines really don't give a [censsoreed] about your game and won't even respond).

It sometimes takes a while before things start rolling, but taken your game is mediocre or better, at least some increase of sales should be noticeable. Especially if you can "make others write about your game". According to some, even bad news is good news whatever the bad news, because it increases the overall publicity.

Cheers

If you want to have full control over sales etc,then go as PhemoX says
but otherwise if you are confident that its good enough,then you should
try mailing your demo to the portals,publishers and they can get it out there
..good luck !

also you can try and hook up with a publishing group, and sometimes for a fee they'll do distributing for you (advertising, portals, etc) and let your retain license to still sell it your self, thats what im planning on doing with my next title.

Unfortunately, Joe isn't in business anymore (got snapped up by a big portal) but what he talks about sounds fantastic. I really recommend this podcast on marketing yr indie game.

http://www.indiegamepod.com/podcasts/vgsmart-podcast.mp3

Seems like it's a lot about press-releases, even in early dev to announce the upcoming project! Gametunnel announces a lot of indie release for example. I am sure if you do a good job of it, you would get the attention you want

http://gametunnel.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=936

There are a lot of indie press releases ^^^^

I agree with PHeMoX and Jetpack: a good press release is worth its weight in gold, because you'll get publications talking about your game (and you don't even have to pay them!). It can be tough to do a "good" press release, of course. ;) However, if you can highlight a few unique aspects of your game, the press will be (more) likely to talk about it.