Here's a very good question that I've wondered for a long time. Why do the chunks that are farthest away from you load first and the one you actually spawn on, loads absolutely last (Ok! it's the middle chunk to load) when you join a multiplayer game? Shouldn't it be the other way around to ensure that slow loading computers wont spawn you falling into the void until the chunks catch up?
Well that's true it's more like in the middle, but it feels like it's last. It should be first though. It's frustrating to fall through the ground for several seconds, helpless while you watch the chunks slowly load towards you.
And your comparison is too small scale.
You're more like the 5th chunk segment to load.
16x4 = 64 chunks to load before your segment loads. Your chunk is in the middle of the segment, so add 7 chunks to that. 71 chunks load before yours does if i'm correct on assuming that chunks load in 16 chunk waves. My math is probably low. The number is probably more than that.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=155932
Crates
http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=239467
Item Scrolling
http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=174539
And your comparison is too small scale.
You're more like the 5th chunk segment to load.
16x4 = 64 chunks to load before your segment loads. Your chunk is in the middle of the segment, so add 7 chunks to that. 71 chunks load before yours does if i'm correct on assuming that chunks load in 16 chunk waves. My math is probably low. The number is probably more than that.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=155932
Crates
http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=239467
Item Scrolling
http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=174539
I know it's not the most interesting topic, but this is important. It's a design flaw with chunk loading.
http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=155932
Crates
http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=239467
Item Scrolling
http://www.minecraftforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=174539