Hi nipri,
We are packaging this core with Nios in the next release. It will be compatible with the core Microtronix did and put on the forum, but with your choice of Verilog or VHDL. I will be posting some updated example designs (just some revised HW example files with pin-outs, and an updated version of the ideutils to handle hot-swapping better and with improved comment) here on the forum for people to use shortly. If you would like I can email you a design, please contact me personally.. let me know which development board you're using.
About your question with the IDE: Absolutely. Just create a default project... "empty project" or "hello world" and copy in the IDE files. If you start with hello world, be sure to delete the hello_world.c file from the project lest you have two "main()" routines.
Everyone else: In a week or two I'll post some designs here on the forum.