I never did get into "modern" gaming, although I've always liked Flight Simulator, but it's been ages since I've played that one, too.
One of the old pinball machines I played for hours was one of the baseball type. The joystick was shaped like a Louisville Slugger, and when the pinball was pitched to you, (you had buttons to press for fastball, curve, etc.) it either went down holes at 1st, 2nd, to the outfield and so on, or if you hit one of a couple of small ramps just right, it would go into the stands and be a homer. If you got a grand slam, the free game counter would go off like crazy. I always loved that rather "hollow" sound when it went off.