Good topic - for me, I think there can be a link, but only if there is something there to begin with, and what I mean by that, is you could have a child which plays every violent game there is, and doesn't hurt a fly because she doesn't have any underlying tendencies, versus a child that does - etc.
Part of me also thinks it's just an excuse to excuse bad behaviour. There is a total lack of respect in the younger generation these days in my opinion.