Waiting to get Skyrim at midnight, I bought a WIRED xbox controller and plugged it into my PC. The drivers auto-downloaded and the controller seems good to go. When I get Skyrim, are there any hoops I need to jump through to get it to work, or will it work automatically?

Generally works auto when you just start pressing buttons and what not on the main menu with the controller. If not, go to options, and you'll likely be able to switch keyboard to xbox controller even if you don't have it connected.

It will work. No need to do anything. Plug and play.

Hurray! I much prefer the xbox controlls for action games, but I love RTS's, and my rig is too powerful to justify getting games for a console anymore.

Yeah, I have one for my PC as well. Had to have it just so I could finish Assassins Creed 2. I'm left handed and some of the multi jumps that was needed to progress required me to use the damn thing. A wonderful example of what console gaming is doing for PC gaming.